Refreshi, an app that allows you to buy food at a fraction of the cost
Here's how you can Buy surplus food at a fraction of the cost from restaurants, hotels, and supermarkets.
Did you know 20 million South Africans go to bed without food daily?
And yet, 10 million tonnes of food are wasted in our country annually. It doesn't make sense, right?
We found a revolutionary app that aims to solve this problem while helping businesses reduce food wastage. The business model has been working in Europe and North America and is active in South Africa, specifically, Durban.
Refreshi is an app that connects surplus food from supermarkets, restaurants, coffee shops, hotels and bakeries to consumers at a fraction of the original cost.
The fight against food wastage isn't just a national issue but a problem that is surpassing borders worldwide. Therefore, it is encouraging to see a brand like Refreshi embark on its mission in our country.
Refreshi is currently available to consumers in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban, but the company is looking to expand its network to other regions in SA.
Their goal began in 2025, when they brought their vision to life in Stellenbosch, helping students connect with communities through affordable food while reducing food waste.
"By rescuing surplus food, we’re not just reducing waste—we’re unlocking value for businesses, making food more affordable for consumers, and championing sustainability. This is a win for the environment, a win for people, and a win for businesses," reads their website.
Watch a Durbanite experience the app from Hillcrest Superspar, courtesy of TikTok.
@anazira.xx • @Refreshi • - great new deals for foodies🌍💚🫶 • I really do believe we need more stores on board in Durban so go check out their page and see how you can get involved and be part of something amazing! 🌷🙌 We got this surplus food from Spar through the app at a reduced price instead of it ending up in landfills 🗑️ ♻️ I learned recently that 20mil tons of food goes to waste in South Africa while roughly 10 million go to bed hungry every night 😔. Not good ☝️ The app overall is super easy to use, just download it off AppStore, create a profile, choose what you’d like and then go pick it up at the time they give you • 🌷🌷🌷 • #food #thingstododurban #whattoeatdurban #new #refreshi ♬ El Watar el Hassas by Sherine - Muslim Sounds
The app is fairly new to Durban users and is still expanding its network by encouraging more businesses to join.
According to the content creator who has used the Refreshi app, the network of businesses currently includes Krispy Kreme, Hillcrest Superspar, Pastry Shack, Country Bake, and Doppio Zero.
Refreshi painted a harsh reality when it revealed statistics on food waste and its effects on the environment, society, and the economy.
"Food waste is responsible for 10% of greenhouse gas emissions. That’s more than 2,5 times the emissions of the whole aviation industry. We waste 2.5 billion tonnes of food annually, whilst 828 million people go hungry daily. Wasting food costs us USD 1.2 trillion each year," the comapany website reports.
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Image Courtesy of TikTok