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Township Retail Gets a Sustainable Upgrade


Portait of the CEO of Adashi, Ahmed.
IMAGE CAPTION: A Smartfill Representative with a customer inside a Spaza Shop. Image: Supplied / Smartfill

Smartfill’s Plastic-Free Refill Stations Launch in Tembisa Spaza Shops

In Tembisa, one of South Africa’s most vibrant township economies, retail is quietly undergoing a transformation. Not through big-box stores or glossy malls, but inside the spaza shops that serve thousands of households every day.

In September 2025, Smartfill officially launched its latest plastic-free refill dispensers across spaza shops in Tembisa, bringing affordable, sustainable, and accessible shopping closer to home. Designed specifically for the informal trade market, Smartfill enables shoppers to buy everyday essentials in the exact quantities they need, without single-use plastic, unnecessary packaging, or inflated prices. 

This rollout marks a major milestone for Smartfill, a proudly South African innovation developed by DY|DX in partnership with Smollan, and backed by TRANSFORM, the global impact accelerator led by Unilever, EY, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

Designed for How Townships Really Shop

In township economies, shopping patterns are shaped by cash flow, not convenience alone. Many families bulk-buy at the start of the month, then top up essentials mid-month, sometimes with as little as R20 to R50 at a time.

Smartfill is built around this reality.

By allowing customers to refill using their own containers and buy by value or weight, Smartfill helps households stretch every Rand further, without compromising on brand quality. Shoppers can access familiar essentials such as rice, maize meal, peanuts, cooking oil, washing powder, and dishwashing liquid from trusted brands including Unilever, B-Well, Golden Key, and Mielie King.

Strengthening Spaza Shops, Not Replacing Them

Unlike traditional retail models that pull foot traffic away from township stores, Smartfill is designed to strengthen spaza shops, increasing both footfall and daily engagement.

“The general trade is where 40% of South Africa’s FMCG goods are purchased,” says Michael Smollan, Chief Growth Officer of Smollan Group.“Consumers are actively engaging in this space, and we’ve seen accelerating sales volumes for smaller-sized refills. Brands benefit from daily visibility, and spaza shops benefit from increased customer visits.”

For spaza owners, Smartfill isn’t just a sustainability solution, it’s a revenue and relevance engine.


Founder’s Perspective: More Than Sustainability


At the heart of Smartfill’s model is a belief that sustainability, affordability, and dignity should go hand in hand.


“Smartfill is about more than sustainability, it’s about affordability, dignity, convenience, and community,”says Nevo Hadas, CEO of Smartfill.“These dispensers make trusted brands accessible in the exact quantities families need, at prices they can afford. At the same time, we’re helping spaza owners grow their businesses while reducing single-use plastic.

AfricArena Exposure: Nairobi 2025


Smartfill’s journey gained a significant boost when the team pitched at AfricArena Nairobi in 2025, connecting with a network of stakeholders, investors, and corporates from across the continent. The exposure helped position Smartfill as a leading example of circular innovation in informal markets and opened doors to partnerships and global recognition.


We’re heading to Nairobi again this year for the AfricArena Nairobi Summit 2026, happening 29–30 April. To secure super early bird tickets, you can purchase them here.

Affordability as the Core Innovation


Affordability isn’t a side benefit of Smartfill, it’s the foundation of its success.


By eliminating unnecessary packaging and rethinking logistics, Smartfill enables brands to offer better pricing while protecting margins. For consumers, this means quality products without compromise, available in everyday, cash-flow-friendly quantities.


The numbers already tell a compelling story:


  • 30,000+ transactions completed and counting

  • 28% of customers returning daily within just three months of deployment Refill, it turns out, isn’t just viable, it’s scalable.

Brand Partners See a Breakthrough


For FMCG brands, Smartfill offers a new route to market, one rooted in real household behaviour.


“Golden Delight is proud to partner with Smartfill as part of our commitment to making quality rice more accessible,”says Shannon Franks, Brand Manager at Goldkeys International.“Buying only what’s needed, using your own packaging, supports real household needs while building a more sustainable future, values that have always been central to our brand.”

Scaling a Circular Model Beyond Tembisa


Smartfill’s success in township retail has sparked international interest. Backed by demand from global brand partners and recognition from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, WWF, and TRANSFORM, the model is now being piloted in Bangladesh and Kenya, with expansion underway in Zambia.


Through TRANSFORM’s R9 million circular economy initiative, Smartfill is also establishing:


  • 14 refill-enabled stores

  • Low-emission distribution networks

  • Expanded access in underserved communities such as Tembisa and Mtendere, Zambia


“This grant isn’t just an investment in Smartfill,” adds Nevo Hadas. “It’s an investment in the dignity and wellbeing of millions of people who rely on informal markets.”

A Blueprint for the Future of Informal Retail


Smartfill is proving that circular innovation can work at scale in underserved markets, starting in township spaza shops and reaching far beyond South Africa’s borders.


By combining smart technology, inclusive design, and a deep understanding of local economies, Smartfill is reshaping how everyday essentials are bought, sold, and experienced, one refill at a time.


Want to Be Part of the Next Big Thing?


Whether you’re a startup founder looking to raise capital, a corporate ready to collaborate, or just someone who loves being in the room where Africa’s future happens, we’ve got a seat for you.



Because in the AfricArena network, one connection can change everything.


Explore African startup stories at africarena.com

Learn more about Smartfill: www.smartfill.store

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