Wikipedia

Foodsi

Foodsi is a Polish mobile application that connects customers with restaurants, convenience stores, bakeries and cafes that have a surplus of food, allowing its users to buy the surplus at a reduced price.[1] The service launched in 2019 in Warsaw and has expanded to other major cities in Poland.[2]

Foodsi sp.z o.o.
Company typePrivate
IndustryMobile app
Founded2019; 5 years ago (2019) in Poland
FoundersMateusz Kowalczyk, Jakub Fryszczyn
Areas served
Poland
Websitewww.foodsi.pl

In 2023, a new feature was introduced in the app, allowing users to buy packages not only with self-pickup but also with delivery. The products range has also been expanded to include unsold magazines, cosmetics or plants.

History

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The company was created in 2019 in Poland by Mateusz Kowalczyk and Jakub Fryszczyn. During studies in their home country and abroad, when they made a living working in restaurants and bakeries, they recognized the problem and the scale of food waste. They launched the application by themselves, having previously raised PLN 100,000 on their own for the purpose. Initially, Foodsi was an Android-only app, but over time, an IOS version was developed.[3]

In 2022, the startup raised PLN 6 million in a seed round from VC companies including CofounderZone and Status Starter, as well as private investors such as founders of Pyszne.pl.[4][5]

As of December 2023, it claimed more than 5000 businesses, serving over 1,5 million users, have saved nearly 3 million bags of food.

Purpose

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Foodsi aims to significantly reduce food waste, which contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals. The application bridges the gap between the customers who are looking for shopping deals and the companies that want to reduce surplus products but are unable to sell them at a normal price. This allows the customers to buy unsold products for as little as 30% of the normal price.[6] The company claims that every 4 out of 5 packages are sold on average.[7]

As of 2019 Foodsi employed more than 30 people.[8] By 2024 it was more than 50. For now, Foodsi operates in major Polish cities such as Warsaw, Kraków, Trójmiasto, Wrocław, Poznań etc.[9] However, in the upcoming years, Foodsi plans to expand to other countries.[10]

Use

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To start selling surplus, a company must leave Foodsi its contact information to register in the system. Registration in the app is completely free of charge. Then, companies offer available packages anticipating what won’t be sold and post them in the app along with the price so that users can buy them and pick them up. Companies can put their packages in the app at any time during the day.[11] Users can pick up packages from bakeries, grocery stores, restaurants, but also florists and beauty stores. Foodsi charges a small commission on each package from the cooperating companies.[12]

If a user wants to  start ordering packages from Foodsi, he or she needs to install the app on their mobile phone (Android or IOS) and register an account.[13] The app displays a list of restaurants and other venues available in a specific region set by the user's location. Customers can see the price, address, distance and time range for package pickup.[14] Packages are usually in the form of so-called 'surprise-packages', meaning that customers do not know specifically what kind of food/product will be inside. Some restaurants offer a choice of different package sizes. Prices are up to 70% lower  than those of the original products. Customers have to show up at the restaurant to pick up the package using their phone at a time specified in the app.[15]

Awards

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In 2023, Foodsi co-founder Mateusz Kowalczyk was recognized by Forbes magazine and included in its "30 before 30" list.[19]

References

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  1. ^ "FAQ". Foodsi (in Polish). Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Polska aplikacja Foodsi nie pozwoli na marnowanie jedzenia. Teraz też w Krakowie". www.telepolis.pl (in Polish). 10 December 2020. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  3. ^ "Polacy stworzyli aplikację dla ekologicznych freaków. "Społeczeństwo jest na nią gotowe"". INNPoland.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  4. ^ ISBnews (29 September 2022). "Foodsi pozyskało 6 mln zł w rundzie seed m.in. na przygotowanie do ekspansji za granicą". Comparic – kursy walut, notowania, inwestycje, giełda, spółki, akcje (in Polish). Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Startup Foodsi pozyskał 6 mln PLN na ratowanie jedzenia". fintek.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  6. ^ Rak, Adam (5 August 2019). "Foodsi: Ratuj jedzenie przed zmarnowaniem i jedz 70% taniej". Comparic – kursy walut, notowania, inwestycje, giełda, spółki, akcje (in Polish). Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Zostań Partnerem". Foodsi (in Polish). Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  8. ^ "Startup Foodsi pozyskał 6 mln PLN na ratowanie jedzenia". fintek.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  9. ^ "Polska aplikacja Foodsi nie pozwoli na marnowanie jedzenia. Teraz też w Krakowie". www.telepolis.pl (in Polish). 10 December 2020. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  10. ^ Supernak, Bartłomiej (29 September 2022). "Foodsi pozyskało 6 mln zł w rundzie seed między innymi na przygotowanie do ekspansji za granicą". Inwestycje.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  11. ^ "Zostań Partnerem". Foodsi (in Polish). Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  12. ^ "Kupujesz jedzenie za pół ceny i walczysz z marnowaniem żywności. To zasługa tych aplikacji". Businessinsider (in Polish). 29 September 2021. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  13. ^ "Foodsi - Po co marnować jedzenie". Foodsi (in Polish). Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  14. ^ "Sprawdziłam Foodsi i Too Good To Go - apki walczące z marnowaniem jedzenia. Zjadłam tanio i dzielę się wnioskami". Spider's Web (in Polish). 26 July 2019. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  15. ^ "FAQ". Foodsi (in Polish). Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  16. ^ "Poznaliśmy najlepsze polskie startupy 2023 roku". ITwiz (in Polish). 15 December 2023. Archived from the original on 4 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  17. ^ Polska, My Company; partnerem, Materiał powstał w komercyjnej współpracy z (5 September 2023). "Foodsi. Z niewielką pomocą przyjaciół". My Company Polska (in Polish). Archived from the original on 4 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  18. ^ admin. "The FoodTech 500". Forward Fooding - Powering the Food & Food Tech revolution!. Archived from the original on 4 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  19. ^ "30 przed 30. Lista młodych Polaków, którzy podbijają świat". Forbes.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 4 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
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