Refreshi has officially partnered with FoodForward SA, South Africa's largest food bank, as our sustainability partner. Together, we're making sure that good food stays out of landfill and reaches the people who need it most.

Who FoodForward SA are

FoodForward SA redistributes quality surplus food to community organisations that feed vulnerable people across the country. Their network spans over 700 beneficiary organisations, from soup kitchens to early childhood development centres, turning recovered food into measurable social impact.

How the partnership works

Refreshi's consumer app connects surplus food from local stores to customers through Surprise Bags. But not every surplus item fits the bag model. Some volumes are too large, or the timing doesn't suit consumer collection. That's where FoodForward SA comes in.

Surplus that isn't sold as a Surprise Bag can still be routed toward FoodForward SA's redistribution network, so good food keeps reaching people in need instead of a bin. Refreshi also promotes FoodForward SA donation opportunities directly in the app and on this site, making it easy for users to support the broader food security mission.

How you can get involved

The simplest way to help is to download the Refreshi app and start rescuing Surprise Bags. Every bag you buy is a meal saved from landfill, and it supports a local food business at the same time.

If you want to do more, visit foodforwardsa.org to donate or volunteer directly. FoodForward SA relies on financial contributions and volunteer time to keep its redistribution network running across all nine provinces.