Four Polish startups in the foodtech sector have been awarded a grant from the Carrefour Foundation, the company has announced.
The companies include Food Jack, KuMin.Sys, Nielone, and Yoush. Technology Incubator Foundation together with the content partner foodtech.ac. is implementing the project.
The startups received a total of €100,000, which will be spent on product development, marketing, sales, and attracting investors.
Carrefour Foundation
Every year, the Carrefour Foundation supports organisations dealing with collaborative nutritional transformation.
The institution focuses, among others, on combating social exclusion, farm development, and supporting professions related to gastronomy.
This year, for the first time, the foundation is supporting Polish investments in new technologies that look to reduce the impact of nutrition on the environment.
The grant is administered by the Technological Incubator Foundation, which runs the Youth Business Poland programme and the acceleration programme for foodtech.ac startups, in which all four innovative companies took part.
Innovative enterprises at an early stage of development will also receive individual mentoring support from experienced experts from the foodtech sector, the retailer added.
Justyna Orzeł, vice president of the management board, secretary general and director of human resources of Carrefour Polska, said, "For years, Carrefour has been leading a wide range of activities to become a global leader in the nutritional transformation, offering customers healthy, balanced and sustainable solutions for the production and consumption of food. The pursuit of innovation is part of our DNA, so we are all the more pleased that the Carrefour Foundation supports future initiatives on our market.
"Behind the decision is not only the need to respond to the challenges of the future, but also the willingness to respond to the expectations of more and more people who are looking for healthy products and services prepared in a responsible manner."
Selected Startups
Food Jack offers vegetable alternative to meat, based on jackfruit, also known as breadfruit in Polish.
It is a healthy product, containing vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and it looks and tastes like pulled beef.
Food Jack currently sells pre-seasoned and ready-to-eat kits in its own online store.
It aims to expand presence in retail stores, as well as use jackfruit as a base for dishes in vegan and vegetarian restaurants.
Food Jack conducts advanced R&D projects to expand its offer with meat and fish substitutes and convenience dishes.
KuMin.Sys is an IT system for the HoReCa sector, which enables the measurement of the quantity, structure, causes, and value of wasted food, developed by Venturis HoReCa.
The application helps detect excess food at various stages of its production and serving, and then allows users to implement recovery plans.
As part of the pilot project, KuMin.Sys will use its technology to help reduce food waste in one kindergarten and one school.
Unclean is a vegetable substitute for minced meat, made from soybean protein. It is rich in iron, calcium, and vitamins, including D2, B12, B2, and E.
The grant received will allow for further development of production technology, extension of the shelf life, and the introduction of new product categories.
Yoush is a wholesome, complete, plant-based meal, which can be prepared in five minutes.
Made with ingredients of natural origin, it caters to people who do not have time, opportunities, or an idea for a healthy and nutritious meal.
The startup also plans to offer meals in other ready-to-eat formats and launch them for sale in retail stores.
© 2022 European Supermarket Magazine. Article by Conor Farrelly. For more Retail news, click here. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
