Singapore’s food rescue movement is transforming how we shop for groceries. With food waste making up 12% of our total waste and grocery prices climbing, these initiatives offer a practical solution that benefits both your wallet and the environment. Here’s an in-depth look at the best sources for rescued groceries across the island.
Understanding Rescued Food
Rescued food includes perfectly edible items that would otherwise be discarded—surplus stock, cosmetically imperfect produce, items nearing expiry dates, or products that don’t meet supermarket aesthetic standards. The quality and safety remain intact; only the appearance or shelf life differs slightly from regular retail items.
Free Grocery Sources
1. Olio App
What They Offer: Community-based freecycling platform for surplus food and household items. Users share everything from fresh produce and packaged goods to baked items and pantry staples.
How It Works:
- Download the Olio app (available on App Store and Google Play)
- Browse listings filtered by proximity to your location
- Request items directly from other users
- Arrange pickup times with the giver
- No payment required—completely free
Special Feature: Olio partners with pandamart to redistribute unsold groceries through volunteer “Food Waste Heroes.” Volunteers collect goods from stores and upload them to the app for community members to claim.
How to Register:
- Download the app
- Create a free account with your email
- Set your location to see nearby listings
- Optionally sign up as a Food Waste Hero volunteer to collect and distribute items
Contact: Access through mobile app only
2. Fridge Restock Community SG
What They Offer: Singapore’s largest food rescue network, distributing over 9,000kg of rescued food weekly to 40 community fridges and distribution points. Items include fresh vegetables, fruits, bread, dairy products, and packaged goods.
How It Works:
- Volunteers conduct 2-3 rescue missions per week
- Rescued food is sorted and distributed to 40 locations islandwide
- Community members can take what they need from designated fridges and distribution points
- Most locations operate on a first-come, first-served basis
How to Register:
- No formal registration required for most distribution points
- Simply visit a distribution point during operating hours
- Some locations may require you to set up a simple account (e.g., Food Rescue Community Fridges at Toh Yi Drive allow up to 5 items per month)
- Follow their Facebook page for distribution schedules
- Sign up as a volunteer to help with rescue missions
Contact:
- Facebook: Fridge Restock Community SG
- Check their page for the full list of 40 distribution points
- Location directory available on their social media
3. Community Fridges Across Singapore
What They Offer: Neighbourhood pantries stocked with donated and rescued food from various suppliers. Each fridge offers different items based on donations, typically including fresh vegetables, fruits, bread, halal-friendly produce, and packaged goods.
Key Locations:
Bishan East Zone 1 Community Fridge
- Location: Block 112 Bishan Street 12
- Hours: Open 24/7
- Offerings: Fresh vegetables and various groceries
Community Fridge (Yishun)
- Location: Block 162 Yishun Street 11
- Hours: Open 24/7
- Offerings: Halal-friendly produce and general groceries
Food Rescue Community Fridges
- Location: Hardcourt at Block 9 Toh Yi Drive
- Hours: Open 24/7
- Offerings: Various groceries (limit 5 items per month with account)
Bedok Sunflower Community Fridge
- Location: Block 33 Bedok South Avenue 2
- Hours: Every 1st and 3rd Tuesday, 3pm-4pm
- Offerings: Up to 2 bags of fruits and vegetables (halal items available)
My Kind of Fridge
- Location: Block 441 Tampines Street 43
- Hours: Open 24/7
- Offerings: Halal food items and general groceries
The Healthy Indulgence Programme (HIP) Fridge
- Location: Block 616 Punggol Drive
- Hours: Vary (check with community)
- Offerings: Fresh fruits and vegetables, plus kopi and donation corner
The Magic Fridge
- Location: Block 5 Telok Blangah Crescent
- Hours: Vary (check with community)
- Offerings: Fresh fruits and vegetables
How to Register:
- Most fridges: No registration required—open to all residents
- Simply visit during operating hours and take what you need
- Follow the “take what you need, give what you can” principle
- Some fridges may have account setup for tracking purposes
Contact: Check Green Guide or Fridge Restock SG’s directories for complete listings and updates
4. Food Rescue Sengkang (FRSK)
What They Offer: Community-run network sharing surplus groceries since 2019. Items include fresh produce, bread, packaged goods, and pantry staples.
Main Hubs:
- Fernvale Link
- Thanggam Hub
Satellite Points:
- Marymount
- Sembawang
- Ang Mo Kio
- Toa Payoh
- Yishun
How It Works:
- Main hubs: $2 ticketed events
- Satellite points: Free weekly or fortnightly distributions (depending on supply and volunteer availability)
- First-come, first-served basis
How to Register:
- No advance registration required
- Join their Telegram channel for distribution schedules
- Show up at announced distribution times
- For main hub events, purchase $2 ticket on-site
Contact:
- Telegram: FRSK – Food Rescue Sengkang channel
- Follow for latest rescue schedules and location updates
5. Kampung Bishan Bread Rescue
What They Offer: Unsold bakery bread and baked goods rescued from local bakeries.
Location: Block 145 Residents’ Corner, Bishan
Schedule:
- Every Monday and Wednesday
- 10:30pm (arrive early as items go quickly)
- Daily bread supply to Block 145 community fridge
How It Works:
- Late-night distribution events
- Community members gather to collect bread
- First-come, first-served
- All bread is from same-day bakery surplus
How to Register:
- No registration required
- Simply show up at distribution times
- Follow Kampung Bishan Facebook page for updates
Contact:
- Facebook: KampungBishan
- Check page for any schedule changes or special announcements
6. Bishan Community Club Food Distribution
What They Offer: Large-scale monthly food distribution events featuring fresh produce, pantry staples, and bonus services like free haircuts.
Location: Bishan Community Club
Schedule:
- Every 4th and 5th Wednesday of the month
- 4pm to 5pm
- Upcoming: 26th December 2025 (with free haircuts)
Partnership: Collaborates with Ascending Hope Community Services
How It Works:
- Monthly distribution open to all
- Receive fresh produce and pantry essentials
- Free haircut service at select events
- First-come, first-served
How to Register:
- No advance registration required
- Arrive during distribution hours
- Follow Bishan CC Instagram for schedule updates
Contact:
- Instagram: Bishan Community Club
- Check regularly for event schedules and special services
Affordable Grocery Sources
7. MoNo Foods
What They Offer: Surplus packaged goods close to or past best-before dates, including organic snacks, plant-based milks, imported sauces, premium items like Lurpak butter, truffle sauces, and collagen drinks.
Location: Tekka Place, 2 Serangoon Road, B1-21/22/23/24, Basement Main Block, Singapore 218227
Pricing System:
- Choose an empty box (small to large)
- Fill it with as many items as you can fit
- Pay only for the box size: $10 to $35
- Mystery box option: $35 for 20-25 surprise items (delivered)
How It Works:
- Visit the physical store at Tekka Place
- Select a box size
- Fill with available items—inventory changes weekly
- Bring your own bag (may receive freebies)
- Option for mystery box home delivery
How to Register:
- No registration for in-store shopping
- Join Telegram channel for weekly inventory updates
- For mystery box delivery, order through their platform
Contact:
- Telegram: MoNo Foods channel
- Location: Tekka Place basement
- Check Telegram for weekly stock updates
8. Treatsure
What They Offer: Surplus groceries and baked goods from hotels, buffets, and grocers. Items include produce, packaged foods, bakery items, and specialty products nearing best-before dates.
Service Type: Mobile app with delivery or pickup options
How It Works:
- Browse available listings on the app
- Add items to cart
- Choose delivery ($7 fee) or pickup at Tanjong Pagar Plaza concept store
- Items are surplus, cosmetically imperfect, or near best-before dates
- Special category for baked goods
Pricing: Discounted rates on rescued items (varies by product)
How to Register:
- Download Treatsure app (App Store or Google Play)
- Create account with email
- Browse and shop immediately
- Set delivery address or choose pickup location
Contact:
- Mobile app: Treatsure
- Pickup location: Tanjong Pagar Plaza concept store
- In-app customer service
9. UglyFood
What They Offer: Surplus and cosmetically imperfect produce at significant discounts. Product range includes mangoes, broccoli, Shine Muscat grapes, and various fruits and vegetables.
Service Type: Online e-grocer with pickup and delivery
Quality Guarantee: All items quality-checked; spoiled produce fully refunded
Delivery Options:
- Pickup: Paragon Shopping Centre outlet
- Delivery: Free with minimum $50 spend
Pricing: Heavily discounted compared to regular retail (flash sales and bundles available)
How It Works:
- Shop online through UglyFood website
- Add items to cart
- Choose pickup or delivery
- Products may look quirky but are same quality as regular supermarkets
How to Register:
- Create account on UglyFood website
- Provide delivery address
- Join Telegram channel for flash sales and weekly bundle notifications
Contact:
- Website: UglyFood
- Telegram: UglyFood channel
- Pickup location: Paragon Shopping Centre
- Customer service through website
Additional Support Programs
Food Banks (For Eligible Beneficiaries)
Food from the Heart and The Food Bank Singapore operate community shops and distribution programmes for households requiring assistance. Beneficiaries can choose items rather than receiving pre-packed boxes.
How to Register: Applications handled through social service agencies or community partners. Reach out to these organizations directly if you or someone you know needs assistance.
Fairprice Food Share
What They Offer: Imperfect fruits and vegetables rescued from Fairprice outlets
Distribution: 60+ community points across Singapore
Beneficiaries: Over 25,000 eligible individuals including seniors and low-income families
How It Works: Weekly restocking of distribution points with rescued produce
How to Register: Program aimed at eligible beneficiaries—check your nearest distribution point for eligibility requirements
Tips for Success
- Follow social media channels for real-time updates on distributions and inventory
- Arrive early for popular distribution events—items go quickly
- Bring reusable bags to carry your groceries
- Take only what you need to ensure others can benefit too
- Consider volunteering to give back to these community initiatives
- Check multiple sources as inventory varies by location and timing
Final Thoughts
Singapore’s food rescue initiatives demonstrate how communities can tackle both food waste and affordability challenges. Whether you’re seeking free groceries from community fridges or discounted items from online platforms, these resources make sustainable shopping accessible to everyone. The key is finding the sources that work best for your location and schedule, then making them part of your regular grocery routine.