PantryPerks’ referral program makes free groceries possible

A new online grocery retailer harnesses the power of word-of-mouth and offers cash back for customers' and their friends' purchases.

Victoria A.F. Camron, Digital content specialist

January 3, 2018

2 Min Read
PantryPerks’ referral program makes free groceries possible

A new online retailer offers natural, organic and specialty name-brand food for a flat delivery fee and no membership charges—and a chance to earn free groceries.

PantryPerks, founded by Rishi Padhi in Sunnyvale, California, gives customers who spend at least $60 per month 7 percent back on those purchases. When a customer’s friends spend at least $60 a month, the original customer earns 6 percent from those purchases, too. And when friends of friends also spend at least $60 per month, the original customer receives 5 percent of that.

Customers can receive their payments via PayPal, bank transfers or PantryPerks credits, Padhi wrote in an email to New Hope. 

rishi_20padhi-pantryperks_3.jpg“We enable this by not spending on marketing and instead, giving it back to consumers for their word-of-mouth reference,” he wrote. PantryPerks also gives 1 percent of each sale to a nonprofit of the customer’s choice or, if the customer chooses, 6 percent of a sale to the Non-GMO Project, according to the company’s website.

“We use technology, a lean supply chain and social commerce to challenge traditional retail margins structures, and re-distribute the same back to consumers and causes,” Padhi wrote.

The company says it is not a multi-level marketing company, because consumers are not required to purchase and re-sell inventory and no one is compensated for recruiting associates. Instead, PantryPerks uses a “triple-reward loyalty cashback program” or “multi-level social commerce,” Padhi wrote.

Padhi is the sole founder of PantryPerks, which opened in September as a for-profit, online-only business. His experience includes nearly 17 years in consumer packaged goods, consulting and e-commerce (including eBay). He is, he wrote, in discussions with bringing in partners or investors.

Because he is in discussions with potential funders, he would not say how much the average customer is spending or how many unique customers the business has had so far.

About the Author

Victoria A.F. Camron

Digital content specialist, New Hope Network

Victoria A.F. Camron was a freelance writer and editor contracted with New Hope Network from 2015 until April 2022, when she was hired as New Hope Network's digital content specialist—otherwise known as the web editor.

As she continues the work she has done for years—covering the natural products industry for NewHope.com and Natural Foods Merchandiser; writing up earnings calls and other corporate news; and curating roundups of trends and information for the website—she is thrilled to be an official part of the New Hope team. (She doesn't mind having paid holidays and vacations again, though!) Victoria also compiled and edited newsletters, and served as interim content director for Delicious Living in 2016.

Before working as a freelancer, she spent 17 years in community newspapers in Longmont, Colorado, and St. Charles and Wheaton, Illinois. Victoria is a Colorado native and a graduate of Metropolitan State College of Denver.

Subscribe and receive the latest updates on trends, data, events and more.
Join 57,000+ members of the natural products community.

You May Also Like