FoodWise

What FoodWise does

FoodWise is a Mauritius-based non-profit social enterprise founded in November 2018 by Rebecca Espitalier-Noël and six co-founders (with informal redistribution activities dating to 2016) to address food waste and food insecurity on the island. Its core operation is a two-sided food rescue and redistribution logistics platform that connects 300+ food donors — hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, manufacturers, and distributors such as Innodis, Maurilait, Super U, KFC, LUX* Hotels, and Beachcomber — with 200+ recipient NGOs and schools, using an in-house refrigerated truck fleet to handle collection, safety-controlled sorting, and last-mile delivery. FoodWise also runs three adjacent programs: Rejuice, a zero-waste retail juice bar in Bagatelle Mall that turns cosmetically rejected produce into consumer products; MEAL, a six-week nutrition-and-food-waste education program for 9-12 year olds; and "The Pact on Date Labels," an advocacy coalition with 20+ Mauritian brands that helped drive the 2022 regulatory separation of Best Before from Expiry dates.

The organization is funded by a diversified mix of CSR grants, micro-donation projects embedded in partner brands' customer transactions (50+ active projects, ~Rs 3.5M), individual donations (Rs 500-10,000 tiers), and sales from Rejuice. Major disclosed financial sponsors include Bioculture (Rs 9M+) and ENL Group, which initially employed six of the staff. The team is lean (~12 employees), supported by volunteers, and operates under a board chaired by Aisha Allee (founder/CEO of communications firm Blast BCW, appointed August 31, 2022). FoodWise claims cumulative impact of 8.6M meals redistributed, 2.16M kg of food saved, Rs 309M (≈$6.8M) in food value retained, and a 2022 Social Return on Investment of Rs 5.50 per Rs 1 spent; FY 2023-2024 meals grew 40% YoY.

The strategic posture is shifting from non-profit operator toward quasi-public-institution role: in April 2026 FoodWise signed a food-bank partnership with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Well-being to use government community centers as drop-off points, and Budget 2026-2027 introduced a Food Security and Nutrition Bill plus a Circular Economy Bill. Geographic scope remains Mauritius-only operationally, though co-founder Julia Venn established a FoodWise subsidiary in Madagascar. There is no evidence of external PE/VC ownership; no revenue is publicly disclosed.

Name

FoodWise

Legal name

FoodWise

Website

https://foodwise.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Waste Management and Food Rescue Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (624210), Community Food Services (62421)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Waste Reduction & Diversion Services (Donation, Animal Feed, Source Reduction Programs) (EUAIAEAH), Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH)

Keywords

• Food rescue services
• Surplus food redistribution
• Food waste reduction
• Corporate social responsibility
• Non-profit food bank

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Pierre

HQ country

Mauritius

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. CSR/Financial Donations: Companies provide financial support through CSR budgets to fund food redistribution projects. For Rs 1 million invested, approximately 95,236 meals are redistributed.
2. Micro-donation projects: Partnership with brands where small amounts are added to customer bills and reinvested in FoodWise projects. Rs 3,500,000 donated through 50+ projects generating 50,000 meal equivalents.
3. Rejuice Juice Bars: Zero-waste juice bars turning 'ugly' fruits and vegetables into fresh juices. Revenue from juice sales supports operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

FoodWise is a Mauritian non-profit social enterprise that operates a food rescue and redistribution platform connecting food donors (hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, manufacturers) with NGOs and schools to redistribute surplus food and reduce food insecurity. The organization collects surplus food using a refrigerated truck fleet, provides free donation logistics and impact reporting to corporate donors, and delivers food to over 200 beneficiary organizations. It also operates Rejuice zero-waste juice bars, runs the MEAL nutrition education program for children, and convenes food industry advocacy initiatives such as The Pact on Date Labels.

Product overview

FoodWise is a social enterprise fighting food waste and food insecurity in Mauritius, operating as a platform that connects food donors with NGOs and beneficiaries. The core FoodWise Platform facilitates food collection, sorting, and redistribution through a network of 300+ food partners and 200+ NGOs. The portfolio includes Rejuice (a zero-waste juice bar transforming ugly produce), MEAL (nutrition education program for children), Micro Donations (consumer-facing donation programs with brands), The Pact on Date Labels (advocacy campaign with 20+ food companies), plus training and food bank services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rejuice: Zero-waste juice bars that transform 'ugly' fruits and vegetables into fresh juices. Located in Bagatelle Mall, Moka.
• MEAL
• The Pact on Date Labels

Products and services

• FoodWise Food Rescue and Redistribution Platform End-to-end food donation management service that collects surplus food from food companies (hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, manufacturers) using a refrigerated truck fleet, and redistributes it to 200+ NGOs and schools. Includes NGO prospecting, donation process establishment, team training, delivery, and impact reporting at no cost to food donors.
• Rejuice Zero-Waste Juice Bar Zero-waste juice bar that transforms 'ugly' fruits and vegetables (produce not meeting commercial standards) into fresh juices, sold to retail consumers. Revenue from juice sales supports FoodWise operations.
• MEAL (Making Education About Lunch) Nutrition Program Six-week interactive nutrition and food waste education program for 9-12 year old students from disadvantaged backgrounds, teaching balanced eating, diet-related diseases, and food chain awareness.
• Micro-Donations Program Partnership program with brands where small amounts are added to customer bills and reinvested in FoodWise's food waste and food insecurity projects.
• FoodWise Training and Awareness Sessions Tailored training sessions for companies and NGOs covering food waste reduction, donation processes, food safety handling, and nutritional education.
• FoodWise Food Bank Services Food bank service that collects surplus food from partners and redistributes to NGOs with logistics support including refrigerated truck delivery and community center drop-off points.
• Food-for-Charities (FoodWise Receives Food) Free food distribution service for NGOs and schools, providing reliable food supply to enable organizations to redirect resources toward their core missions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rs 5.50 social return on investment per Rs 1 spent (2022)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

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

• Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Well-being (Mauritius)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2026Official food bank partnership providing community centers across Mauritius for food distribution. Launched April 30, 2026 in Mahébourg with goal of reaching families in difficult-to-access areas. Enables FoodWise to use dedicated spaces for deliveries with their refrigerated truck.
• InnodisflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading food production and distribution company; redistributed 35,000+ meals in 8 months. Donated Emborg brand products. Long-term donor partner.
• MaurilaitflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerDairy manufacturer; one of first partners supporting FoodWise. Saved 40+ tonnes of yogurt since 2018. Provides healthy dairy products to families.
• Scott & Co LtdflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerDistributor; saved 30+ tonnes of products in 2023. Employees engaged with visible smiles knowing products go to donations.
• Super UflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerSupermarket chain sustainability partner. Redistributed 14,022 meals to 19 NGOs in Q1 2021. Enabled responsible action with measurable impact.
• KFC MauritiuscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRestaurant chain donated 4 tonnes of chicken to 28 NGOs. FoodWise provided compliance support across 15+ units.
• Quality BeveragescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBeverage distributor; recovered 2+ tonnes of damaged goods from going to waste through dedicated process with FoodWise.
• SAFIREcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerChild welfare NGO; received food donations saving Rs 300,000/year on food costs. Enabled focus on core mission of protecting children.
• Beachcomber HotelsflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerHotel group; distributes buffet surplus as 170 complete balanced meals twice weekly to RCA school children in Case Noyale.
• LUX* HotelsflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-organized Zero Food Waste Forum with 120+ hotel representatives. Provides daily meals to children through partnership.
• IntermartcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSupermarket chain partner for food donations and collection campaigns.
• Jumbo (Phoenix)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerHypermarket chain; collaborated on CSR food bags at Rs 250 and national collection drives collecting 7+ tonnes.
• ProxifreshcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFresh produce distributor; saved 5,624 kg of vegetables (22,496 meals) through responsive dynamic partnership.
• Top NaturecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProduce company; saves fruits/vegetables not meeting commercial standards and redistributes to people in need.
• The Pact on Date Labels Partners (20+ brands)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition including Avipro, Grays, HAR, HVC, Innodis, Intermart, Jumbo, Latrobe, Moroil, NewMaurifoods, Panagora, Phoenix Beverages, Quality Beverages, Scott, Subana, Super U, Edendale, Oeuf, Maurilait, 20 Degrees Distribution. Committed to 8 engagements reducing date label confusion and food waste.
• Rogers HospitalitycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHotel group; micro-donation projects generating meals. Partnered on chef Mario Pierrot cooking initiative for children.
• PanagoracoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFood distributor and transportation partner; facilitates delivery of donations to schools and NGOs including RCA Case Noyale.
• McDonald's MauritiusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFast food chain partner for food donations.
• SKC SuratminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFood distribution company; saved 5,624 kg of vegetables through partnership, generating 22,496 meals.
• IniciaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated 250,000 eggs to FoodWise for redistribution to those in need during COVID-19.
• IBL Sea FoodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSeafood distributor partner for food donations.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• FareShare: UK charity that redistributes surplus food to a network of frontline charities, with both food rescue and prepared-meal operations. Closely mirrors FoodWise's donor-to-NGO redistribution model.
• Second Harvest (Canada): Canada's largest food rescue organization, redistributing surplus food across a national NGO network with logistics operations. Direct peer in mission, scale ambition, and partner-network model.
• FoodCloud: Ireland-based social enterprise with a tech platform connecting retailers to charities for surplus food redistribution. Comparable model combining B2B partnerships, NGO matching, and impact reporting.
• OzHarvest: Australia's leading food rescue charity, collecting surplus food from commercial donors and redistributing it to charities. Direct peer in mission, model, and donor network structure.
• Banco Alimentare: Italian food bank network collecting and redistributing surplus food through a national NGO network. Comparable in scale and partner-network structure to FoodWise.

Emerging players

• Phénix: French social enterprise selling unsold food and non-food inventory at discounted prices. Overlaps on the anti-food-waste mission with a more commercialized revenue model.
• Too Good To Go: Commercial marketplace connecting consumers with restaurants and retailers selling surplus food. Overlaps on the food-waste mission but operates as a for-profit tech platform rather than a donation-based charity.

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: Largest US hunger-relief organization operating a national network of 200+ food banks. Comparable mission and network model but at vastly larger scale and geographic scope.
• The Global FoodBanking Network: International membership organization supporting the development of food banks worldwide. Comparable at the umbrella/network level and provides peer benchmarking for organizations like FoodWise.

Others

• ReFED: US-based nonprofit focused on food waste reduction data, policy, and innovation. Adjacent rather than direct — provides thought leadership and donor intelligence FoodWise leverages for advocacy campaigns like the Pact on Date Labels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/foodwisemauritius
• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=ChKmsli4gok
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foodwise-mauritius
• Instagraminstagram.com/foodwise
• TikToktiktok.com/@foodwisemauritius

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 FoodWise