In South Africa, millions of people go to bed hungry every day, while 10 million tons of food are wasted, according to Jakob Holbak, founder of Refreshi. One local startup app, Refreshi, is tackling both issues head-on with one smart solution.
How are they doing this, you ask? This is done “by creating a platform that connects surplus food from supermarkets, coffee shops, bakeries, deli’s, restaurants and hotels at the end of the day; and selling them to consumers at discounted prices through surprise bags.” When thinking about Refreshi, the name itself means bringing new life to things as well as updating your computer screen, “We are bringing new life to surplus food and are fully digital, so we felt it was a good match for us.” says Holbak.
Refreshi can be found on Play Store or Google Play. After downloading and opening the app, a map which allows you to select your location will be displayed. This setting allows you to see the various stores near you that Refreshi is partnered with. After selecting your location, scroll through the list of stores and take your pick for your desired surprise bag.
When asked what goes into a typical ‘surprise bag’, Holbak said, “Our initial focus has been on baked goods, sweet treats, fruit and vegetables and cut flowers. Next step will be to add dairy and at a later stage meat, when we are sure that all the processes are fully optimized. The surprise bags vary daily depending on what the stores have left on their shelves.”
The response to Refreshi has been overwhelmingly positive, according to Holbak. An unexpected but heartwarming reaction that he has seen from customers has been “some people buying up to 5 bags at a time in a store. We reached out to these customers and asked why. They explained that they would like to donate the bags to people in need. They feel that Refreshi provides them with a direct opportunity to give back to society and the local community.”
From pastries to vegetables, not wasting food, saving money and helping the environment — sustainability has never been so easy, so visit https://www.refreshi.co.za to keep an eye out for daily deals and your favorite stores that will soon be added to Refreshi’s list of retailers.
By Jani Roux
