What Secondbite does

SecondBite is a registered Australian charity (ACNC; DGR status; ABN 66 116 251 613) and Australia's largest food rescue organisation, founded in 2005 by Ian and Simone Carson. Headquartered in Abbotsford, Victoria, with ~75 staff and ~600 volunteers, the organisation operates a national logistics platform that collects surplus edible food from more than 1,500 growers, manufacturers, and retailers and redistributes it free of charge to nearly 1,100 charity partners — community centres, churches, schools, women's shelters, and Indigenous health services — serving food-insecure Australians. SecondBite reports rescuing ~25 million kilograms of food and providing more than 50 million meals per year, addressing both Australia's ~7.6 billion kg annual food waste and the ~5 million Australians classified as severely food insecure.

The operating model runs on two complementary channels: a Direct Delivery model (SecondBite aggregates, sorts, packs and delivers) and a Community Connect model (SecondBite schedules and manages direct collections by charities from donors such as Coles and Nando's). The 2024 merger with FareShare added an on-site kitchen capability that converts rescued ingredients into ready-to-eat meals; the merged entity now operates as SecondBite | FareShare. Supporting infrastructure includes warehouses in Victoria, Adelaide, and a newly opened Perth facility, a refrigerated truck funded by a $275,000 Victorian Government grant, and an online Food Finder directory for end beneficiaries.

The revenue model blends in-kind and cash streams: in-kind food donations (not book-revenue); tax-deductible individual donations, including $2 donation cards distributed through Coles (which yields ~10 meals per $2 donated, or equivalently ~5 meals per $1); corporate partnerships and Winter/Christmas Appeal campaigns with brands such as Coles, Josh's Rainbow Eggs, Chobani, Mount Franklin, Nando's, Old El Paso, and Lilydale; government grants; and bequests (including a $1 million Frank Costa gift invested in the SecondBite Future Trust). Leadership comprises CEO Daniel Moorfield (former McCormick Asia Pacific President) and Chair Joel Mahemoff. End beneficiaries are low/no-cost of acquisition (Food Finder tool) while partners are acquired and retained through relationship management — a community-led GTM model rather than a sales-led one.

Name

Secondbite

Legal name

SecondBite

Website

https://secondbite.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SecondBite is Australia's largest food rescue organisation, collecting surplus food from 1,500+ growers, manufacturers, and retailers and redistributing it free of charge to nearly 1,100 charity partners serving food-insecure Australians.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food rescue and relief services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD)

Keywords

• Food rescue services
• Surplus food redistribution
• Food relief charity
• Community food programs
• Food waste reduction

Headquarters

HQ city

Heidelberg West

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Food Donations (In-Kind): Farmers, manufacturers, and retailers donate surplus and unsold edible food to SecondBite at no cost. This food is then redistributed to charity partners who provide food relief to Australians in need.
2. Individual Donations: General public donates funds through the website, donation cards at Coles, and various fundraising campaigns. Donations are tax-deductible for gifts of $2 or more.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partners like Coles provide financial support, food donations, and fundraising campaign participation. Partners include food brands participating in promotional campaigns.
4. Government Grants: Received $275,000 Community Food Relief Program grant from Victorian Government to expand regional food rescue capacity.
5. Bequests and Wills: Gifts in wills program including foundation donations like the $1 million bequest from Frank Costa, invested in the SecondBite Future Trust.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SecondBite rescues surplus edible food from growers, manufacturers, and retailers across Australia and redistributes it free of charge to a network of nearly 1,100 charity partners who serve food-insecure Australians. Food is collected, warehoused, sorted, and distributed through two operational models - Direct Delivery and Community Connect - and complemented by FareShare kitchens that cook rescued ingredients into ready-to-eat meals. The merged SecondBite | FareShare entity reported a 30% surge in meals delivered and a 10% increase in rescued food in the first year post-merger.

Product overview

SecondBite is Australia's largest food rescue organisation operating as a single integrated platform that rescues surplus food from growers, manufacturers, and retailers, and redistributes it free of charge to charity partners. The core offering consists of the Food Rescue and Redistribution Service, delivered through two operational models: Direct Delivery (SecondBite collects, warehouses, sorts and delivers to charities) and Community Connect (connecting charities to collect directly from donors like Coles and Nando's). The merged FareShare Charity Kitchens complement operations by cooking rescued ingredients into ready-to-eat meals. Supporting tools include the Food Finder directory for individuals seeking food relief. Fundraising campaigns including the annual Winter Appeal and Christmas Appeal with Coles support operational funding. The organisation reports rescuing approximately 25 million kilograms of food annually and providing more than 50 million meals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food Rescue and Redistribution Service National service rescuing surplus edible food from growers, manufacturers, and retailers and distributing it free of charge to nearly 1,100 charity partners who serve food-insecure Australians.
• Direct Delivery Model Operational service in which SecondBite collects food directly from donors, aggregates it at warehouses, sorts, packs, and distributes it to charity partners across Australia.
• Community Connect Model Service connecting local charities and not-for-profits directly to food donors such as Coles and Nando's, with SecondBite scheduling collections and managing donor-charity relationships.
• FareShare Charity Kitchens Kitchens that grow fresh produce and cook rescued ingredients into nutritious, ready-to-eat meals for distribution through SecondBite's charity partners, following the 2024 SecondBite | FareShare merger.
• Food Finder Directory Online directory tool enabling individuals and families to locate their nearest community food program offering food relief hampers, parcels or meals.
• SecondBite Donation Program Tax-deductible individual donation program offering one-time and recurring giving, $2 donation cards at Coles supermarkets, workplace and school fundraising, and gifts in wills, with $1 equating to up to 5 meals.
• Regional Victorian Food Rescue Expansion Service Grant-funded regional expansion of SecondBite's food rescue service into rural and regional Victoria using new refrigerated transport, delivering an additional 120,000 kilograms (around 240,000 meals) of food in the first year.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1 donated = 5 meals provided
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Josh's Rainbow EggscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2025Giving Initiative partnership where 20 cents is donated for every carton of Josh's Rainbow Eggs sold at Coles. Since 2019, donated 58 tonnes (898,000 eggs). Since December 2025, raised over $92,000 supporting around 368,000 meals.
• ColesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Long-standing corporate partnership since 2011. Coles donates surplus food from supermarkets and distribution centres, hosts annual Winter and Christmas Appeals with $2 donation cards, and has donated equivalent of over 250 million meals to SecondBite. Corporate volunteers participate in hamper packing and fundraising events.
• FareShareflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMerger completed, creating SecondBite | FareShare. One year post-merger celebrated 30% surge in meals delivered and 10% increase in rescued food. FareShare operates charity kitchens cooking rescued ingredients into ready-to-eat meals.
• ChobanicoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner in Winter Appeal campaigns; 20 cents donated for every Chobani yogurt purchased during appeal periods.
• Mount FranklincoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner donating 20 cents per Mount Franklin Still or Sparkling water sold during Winter Appeal, up to $250,000 maximum.
• Nando'scoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFood donor through Community Connect model; also participates in Winter Appeal with 20 cents donated per sauce product sold, up to $30,000.
• Old El PasominorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipating brand in Winter Appeal; 20 cents donated per tortilla product purchased during appeal.
• Lilydale Free Range ChickenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipating brand in Winter Appeal; 20 cents donated per chicken product purchased.
• CDS Vic West Zone (TOMRA Cleanaway)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to turn eligible drink containers into meals through container deposit scheme recycling.
• Outer East Foodshare (OEF)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVolunteer-run hub in Wantirna, Melbourne, receiving 120,000+ kgs of SecondBite food since 2024 partnership, distributing to 50 charities in outer eastern suburbs.
• Food AssistcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdelaide-based charity serving 1,000+ people weekly; received 780,000 kgs of food over 7-year partnership.
• NOTCH (North Townsville Community Hub)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupports 1,500+ people monthly through Community Connect model linked to Coles stores in Bushland Beach and Deeragun.
• Urban Angels Community KitchencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSunshine Coast community kitchen providing 10,000 meals monthly using SecondBite supplied food.
• YouGovminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership for SecondBite Food Insecurity Sentiment Survey providing national data on Australian household food security.
• City of MelbourneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Queen Victoria Market food rescue initiative addressing estimated 800 tonnes of annual food waste.
• The SwagminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Stop Food Waste Day; limited edition SecondBite Bundle with $4 from every sale donated.
• Foodbank AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint advocacy for food relief sector funding; collaborated on National Food Donation Tax Incentive proposal.
• OzHarvestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint advocacy for increased government funding; collaborated on food donation tax incentive legislation.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• OzHarvest: Australia's leading food rescue charity, operating a near-identical model of collecting surplus food from businesses and redistributing it to charities. Direct competitor for food donors, charity partners, corporate partnerships, and government funding in Australia.
• Feeding America: Largest hunger-relief organisation in the United States, operating a network of 200+ food banks distributing food to people in need. Closest international functional peer to SecondBite in scale, model, and mission.
• FareShare: Australian charity operating volunteer kitchens that cook rescued ingredients into ready-to-eat meals. Merged with SecondBite in 2024; prior to merger was the most direct functional peer for the meal-preparation component of SecondBite's operations.
• Foodbank Australia: National food bank network distributing food to charities across Australia. Directly comparable in scale and mission, with joint advocacy on the National Food Donation Tax Incentive highlighting peer-level collaboration and competition.
• City Harvest: New York City's largest food rescue organisation, rescuing surplus food and delivering it free to charities. Comparable operating model and urban scale, useful as an international benchmark for food rescue logistics and charity partner management.

Broad incumbents

• Salvation Army Australia: Major charity operating food assistance programs nationally through its network of centres. Comparable as a downstream charity partner and as a broader humanitarian organisation overlapping with SecondBite's end beneficiary base.
• Mission Australia: Large Australian social services organisation that operates food assistance programs alongside housing, employment, and family services. Comparable as a charity partner and as a broader social services incumbent that touches food-insecure populations.
• St Vincent de Paul Society Australia: Large Australian charity providing food relief and material aid. Comparable as both a downstream charity partner for SecondBite and as a broader social services organisation serving similar end beneficiaries.

Emerging players

• Too Good To Go: European surplus food marketplace connecting consumers directly to businesses with unsold food. Different model (consumer marketplace vs charity redistribution) but operating in the same surplus-food prevention space and a potential future adjacency or threat.
• FoodCloud: Ireland-based social enterprise using technology to redistribute surplus food from retailers to charities. Comparable mission with a more technology-led approach, representing the type of digital-enabled entrant that could disrupt traditional volunteer-driven models.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/secondbite_org
• Facebookfacebook.com/159913667406479
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1905238

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Secondbite