FoodForward SA is delighted to have been selected as the official sustainability partner of Refreshi, South Africa’s leading surplus food marketplace.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to reducing food loss and waste while creating greater awareness of the role food recovery can play in building a more sustainable and food secure South Africa.
Every year, millions of tonnes of edible food is lost or wasted across the food value chain, despite growing levels of food insecurity.
While FoodForward SA focuses on recovering quality surplus food at scale and redistributing it to communities in need, Refreshi provides consumers with an opportunity to purchase surplus food from supermarkets, bakeries, restaurants, hotels, and coffee shops through its Surprise Bag platform.
Since launching, Refreshi has partnered with more than 650 businesses and helped facilitate the recovery of over 160,000 meals, demonstrating the growing appetite for practical solutions that reduce food waste.
As part of the partnership, Refreshi will feature FoodForward SA across its platform and branded Surprise Bags, helping to raise awareness of food recovery and the importance of preventing good food from going to waste. Participating businesses will also have the option to donate a portion of their Surprise Bag revenue in support of FoodForward SA’s food recovery programmes.
“FoodForward SA is excited to partner with Refreshi to create another meaningful way for the food supply chain and consumers to support the timely recovery of surplus food and help address food insecurity and malnutrition.
With more than 10 million tonnes of mostly edible food going to waste in South Africa each year, the scale of the challenge can seem overwhelming. Partnerships like this demonstrate that small actions, taken consistently and collectively, can deliver significant impact.
Every Surprise Bag purchased is a simple act with multiple benefits: less food waste, lower environmental impact, and more food available to support vulnerable communities. It is proof that when businesses and consumers work together, surplus food can become a powerful force for good.” Says Andy Du Plessis, Managing Director, FoodForward SA
Reducing food loss and waste requires collaboration across the food system, and we welcome initiatives that encourage greater participation from businesses and consumers alike. Every business that recovers surplus food, every consumer who chooses a Surprise Bag, and every contribution towards food recovery help to create a meaningful impact. Together, we can ensure that more good food remains in the food system and out of landfill, while building a more sustainable and food secure future for all South Africans.
Download the Refreshi app and join a growing community of consumers taking practical action to reduce food waste, one meal at a time.
