Innovation Impact

Innovation is part of our DNA and we’re always looking for new ways to create social impact and add value to what we do.

2022 was a big year! After many Covid related delays, Refettorio OzHarvest Sydney finally opened. Our Food Truck was back on the road, serving private events, community lunches and introducing an all new OzHarvest Catering Service, along with new plans for ForPurposeCo.

Refettorio OzHarvest

Refettorio OzHarvest

Dining with dignity at a community oasis

This social impact collaboration with world-renowned chef Massimo Bottura, finally opened its doors in February.  Refettorio OzHarvest is a unique community space now serving over 300 guests a week a free nourishing three course meal made with love.

The project has evolved to include Neighbourhood Dinners in the evenings, giving the wider public a chance to experience the Refettorio and raise valuable funds to help keep our doors open. We were thrilled to be recognised at the Good Food Guide Awards as the winner of the ‘Food for Good’ Award.

To grow our impact and foster community connections, the charities we support often meet here describing it as ‘our happy place’ it’s also used to support OzHarvest education programs.

Hear from Kat at the Refettorio

Remember to turn volume on!

  • 300

    customers weekly

  • 21

    Neighbourhood Dinners

  • 42,750

    meals served

The half an hour I spend here transforms the quality of the rest of my week. Staff welcome me and treat everyone with dignity and compassion. I don’t have words to thank you.

Refettorio guest

Special Thanks

City of
Sydney
Just World
Investments
Woolworths
Mainbrace
Goodman
Foundation
Frost
Collective
Frost
Catering
Food
for Soul

Food truck & catering

Food truck & catering

Mobile catering with purpose

Our Food Truck and new catering service is a great example of how we look for innovative ways to create social impact. We were delighted to see the team back on the road this year, with a refreshed event package, new vegetarian menus, plus the option to have OzHarvest Catering delivered!

This is a purpose-led project that serves delicious, sustainably sourced meals which reflect our zero-waste philosophy. Private bookings allow us to host a nourishing community lunch for free at one of the charities we support.

  • 55

    private events

  • 8,759

    meals served

  • 2,200

    community meals served

“You can see the impact OzHarvest has especially when the Food Truck comes to the community, it puts a smile on people’s faces – everyone loves it.”

Peter Akkermans

RedLink Community Centre

ForPurposeCo

ForPurposeCo

Bringing innovative ideas to life for profit and purpose

Our social impact business, ForPurposeCo, will be rebranded to become OzHarvest Ventures in 2023. The ForPurposeCo team have brought to life various new business ventures to help reduce food waste or diversify revenue, such as the much-loved Juice For Good vending machines (which have subsequently been sold), Winnow technology for hospitality, OzHarvest’s meal delivery platform, Harvest Bites, and are now exploring innovations that have the potential to rapidly scale food waste reduction.

OzHarvest Ventures will bring innovative business ideas to life to create sustainable long-term revenue for OzHarvest to help scale its impact. Its funding model is through impact investment, investors, and revenue generation.