Still Good CEO Steffen Burrows announced the launch of The Goods Marketplace, marking a strategic expansion for the SA venture. We introduced their existing discount grocery app product in June 2025, explaining that it focuses on R50 "Value Bags" from over 100 retail partners like Pick n Pay and Spar.

This new short-dated marketplace, however, allows consumers to buy specific, identified items from distributors at discounts of up to 65%.

The platform targets the distressed category, which includes products with dented packaging, discontinued branding or stock nearing its best-before date, as well as older stock. This move positions Still Good further up the supply chain, tapping into an estimated R61 billion in food lost or wasted across the country each year.

This expansion follows a successful pilot of the retail model, where the company helped shoppers save nearly R4 million in its first six months. Burrows, who previously led sustainability at Pick n Pay and Sealand Gear, is now positioning the platform as a direct response to 63.5% of South African households experiencing food insecurity and curb high prices.

The Goods uses PUDO lockers for delivery, which have widespread coverage across the country, so customers can collect their orders conveniently from a nearby location.

South African food prices have surged by 60% over the last six years, far outpacing average salary growth. For the average consumer, The Goods Marketplace acts as a savings tool by offering 2019-level pricing on pantry staples. For manufacturers, it provides a recovery channel for stock that would otherwise occupy expensive warehouse space or end up in landfills, which are currently nearing capacity across major metros.

The shift to a transparent marketplace addresses the primary friction point of their original model: the mystery factor in their discount grocery app. 

While the Value Bags have a 95% sell-through rate, some stores sell out 50 bags in two minutes, leaving many shoppers empty-handed. A permanent marketplace allows for higher volume and predictable shopping, which is essential for families trying to plan monthly grocery budgets rather than hunting for daily surprises.

The primary risk is the logistical last-mile cost, as delivering heavy, low-value grocery items often erases the 65% savings for the consumer unless they buy in bulk. And then, you’d think they’d also have to secure a consistent supply from tier-one manufacturers who may be wary of brand dilution from selling their goods at deep discounts.

Who are the competitors? Still Good is entering a space increasingly crowded by large-scale non-profits like FoodForward SA, which redistributed over 57 million meals in 2025, and retail giants like Checkers Sixty60 that are using AI to manage stock more efficiently before it even becomes distressed.

What we don’t know yet is the exact delivery footprint. While the retail bags require in-store collection, a manufacturer-to-consumer marketplace requires a robust courier network, and it is unclear if this will be available to rural areas where food insecurity is highest.

We’re waiting on more info from Steffen and team, and will update you as soon as we get the word. 

The implementation of South Africa’s Draft Strategy for Reducing Food Losses and Waste will be the key regulatory driver for Still Good in the coming year. The government aims to halve per-capita retail and consumer food waste by 2030, which may include tax incentives for companies that use secondary marketplaces. Watch for whether Still Good can integrate with major logistics players to keep delivery fees below the R35 mark set by traditional grocery apps like Checkers Sixty60, Woolies Dash and Uber Eats.

If Still Good can solve the logistical puzzle of the last mile, they may transform the R61 billion cost of waste into a lifeline for millions of South Africans currently priced out of the supermarket aisle.

See why Checkers Sixty60 growth continues to outpace rivals in 2026. Uber Eats’ new AI cart assistant to help shoppers find deals. And how Amazon launched Amazon Lens to shift the SA e-commerce landscape.