We give surplus food a second chance. Discover delicious food from local businesses at discounted prices, while helping reduce food waste. Every cent we make goes to fighting food insecurity.
Matching meals to many.
Birp isn't here to make a profit. Every cent we earn goes directly to organisations fighting food insecurity in South Africa. When you rescue a meal with Birp, you're feeding someone who needs it too.
We're building our network of local partners. Get in touch to list your surplus food on Birp — it's free and takes just a few days to set up.
Restaurants, bakeries, cafés, delis, grocery stores — if you have surplus food at the end of the day, Birp is for you.
Everything you need to know about Birp — for customers and stores.
A surprise bag is a selection of surplus food from a local business — whatever they have left at the end of the day. You know the general type (bakery, café, restaurant) and the approximate value, but the exact contents are a delightful surprise. That's what keeps prices so low.
Bags are priced at up to 70% off their retail value — typically between R25 and R65. The exact price is shown on each listing before you reserve.
After reserving, you'll receive a unique pickup code. Head to the store within the listed collection window, show your code at the counter, and collect your bag. Simple as that.
Not exactly — that's the nature of a surplus bag. You'll see the general category and any allergen information, but the specific items are determined by what the store has left that day. Think of it as a fun food adventure at a great price.
Each listing shows allergen information provided by the store. Because bags contain a variety of items, we cannot guarantee they are free from specific allergens. If you have a severe allergy, please check with the store directly before collecting.
Birp is a not-for-profit project. Our proceeds go to food-security charities in South Africa. The store receives payment for their food, and Birp's share is donated. When you buy a bag, you're also helping feed someone who needs it.
Yes. There is no cost to become a Birp partner. We handle the platform — you just list your surplus and collect your bags at the end of the window.
Only reserved (paid) bags are confirmed orders — so if a bag is reserved, someone will collect it or they've already paid. Uncollected bags remain the store's food to handle as they see fit. We're working on a clear no-show policy as we grow.
Get in touch via our contact form or email us at hello@birp.co.za. We'll walk you through the process, set up your profile, and get you listed — usually within a few days.
The participating store is responsible for the food it supplies — its preparation, storage, packaging, and safety. Birp facilitates the transaction but does not handle food directly. Stores must comply with all applicable food safety regulations.
We're currently serving Claremont, Woodstock, Observatory, Sea Point, and Gardens in Cape Town. We're starting small and growing carefully — more areas coming soon as we bring on new partners.
Birp is a Grade 9 student project at Bishops (Diocesan College) in Cape Town, built as part of our Big Ideas philanthropy programme. It's a real working platform with real partner stores — just run by students who genuinely care about the problem. We're growing it into something bigger.
Questions, ideas, or a local business that wants to join Birp? We'd love to hear from you.