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Jimmy Chow

An app that reduces food waste by turning surplus meals at businesses into discounted “mystery meal boxes” for customers has been named a finalist in the sustainability category of the Spirit of Hong Kong Awards 2025.
Yindii’s Hong Kong general manager, Agnes Lee Yin-kei, said the recognition was a tribute to “every food hero and shop that believes a less wasteful city is possible”.
For Lee, who sees bakeries and cafes throwing away trays of unsold food each night, the problem is painfully clear.
“You walk into a bakery at 10pm and the shelves are still full. They can’t donate everything, and most of it ends up in the bin,” she said.
Yindii was founded in Bangkok in 2020 by French entrepreneur Louis-Alban Batard-Dupre, who was volunteering at a food bank during the pandemic, when he saw “perfectly edible food going to landfill because it couldn’t reach people in time”.
What he witnessed inspired a tech-powered bridge between food retailers and consumers in the Asian market. Yindii later acquired Hong Kong start-up Phenix by OnTheList in 2023, with Lee helping to further the localisation and expansion of the market.
“Hong Kong is such a resourceful city, yet we throw away thousands of tonnes of good food every day. The glaring contrast between abundance and waste became our catalyst,” she said.
The app connects bakeries, cafes, supermarkets and hotels with nearby customers who can purchase their unsold items at steep discounts – typically 50 per cent or more.
Shoppers pay through the app and collect their orders before closing time. The food is identical to what was sold earlier in the day.
Unlike the Bangkok operation, Yindii Hong Kong does not offer deliveries.

“We found that self-collection suits the city better,” she said. “Public transport is convenient, it lowers carbon emissions, and it keeps operations simple for stores.”
The platform’s biggest draw is its playful twist on sustainability – a mystery food box. Customers never know exactly what they’ll receive until they open it.
“It’s like unboxing a present after work. You might get pastries, salads or even a hotel buffet box. You give yourself a small surprise while helping the planet.”
Yindii’s data shows that more than 60 per cent of users are women aged 24 to 40, mostly professionals and mothers.
“They’re not just bargain hunters. They love the idea of saving good food from waste and sharing their finds online. It’s a lifestyle choice.”
The mystery box concept taps into Hong Kong’s culture of discovery. “Just like gacha toys, there’s a little thrill. But here, every spin helps cut carbon.”
Yindii now partners with more than 400 brands, from Pret A Manger, City’super and Circle K to luxury hotels such as Rosewood Hong Kong.
A new “Fill & Go” service allows customers to pay for an empty container and fill it themselves from hotel buffets near closing time, a scheme that achieves 80 to 100 per cent sell-through.
Since the launch in Bangkok, Yindii’s community has rescued more than 650,000 meals, preventing over 1,600 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
In Hong Kong alone, users have saved more than 300,000 meals since 2023.
“Every bag rescued keeps quality food out of landfills. Our mission is tangible. People can see their impact in real time,” Lee said.
The app’s back end also uses AI-driven analytics to help partner merchants predict surplus and plan smarter production.
“Technology turns good intentions into measurable results. We call our users ‘Food Heroes’ because they show how everyday choices add up,” Lee said.
Still, she explained that scaling the movement requires persistence. “Our biggest challenge is changing habits. Rescuing food was once seen as charity; now it’s becoming cool.”

Her five-year plan is to make food rescue the default behaviour in every district.
“We want people to think of Yindii as naturally as they think of ordering takeaway,” she said.
“Hong Kong shows that saving the planet can also taste good. Sometimes, all it takes is saying yes to a little surprise.”
The Spirit of Hong Kong Awards is co-organised by the South China Morning Post and Sino Group to recognise the efforts of the city’s unsung heroes who contribute to the community or inspire others with stories of how they overcome personal challenges.


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Spirit of Hong Kong Awards: app that tackles food waste with ‘mystery boxes’

Agnes Lee, Hong Kong general manager of Yindii, leads the platform’s local operations and community outreach efforts. Photo: Kong Yat-pang

Customers pay for and collect discounted “mystery boxes” of surplus food through the Yindii app. Photo: Kong Yat-pang

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Hong Kong arm of Yindii, an app first launched in Bangkok, offers customers discounts on surplus food from restaurants, bakeries and supermarkets


Hong Kong arm of Yindii, an app first launched in Bangkok, offers customers discounts on surplus food from restaurants, bakeries and supermarkets.


Spirit of Hong Kong Awards: app that tackles food waste with ‘mystery boxes’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Hong Kong arm of Yindii, an app first launched in Bangkok, offers customers discounts on surplus food from restaurants, bakeries and supermarkets

Hong Kong arm of Yindii, an app first launched in Bangkok, offers customers discounts on surplus food from restaurants, bakeries and supermarkets