In the U.S. alone, small food startup brands could account for 15% of a $464 billion sector in a decade's time compared with 5% now, according to Bernstein Research. So what does it take to make it as a food start-up in a market where innovation is exploding? Three start-ups from various sectors of the food industry discussed this and more with Food Technology magazine’s senior digital editor Kelly Hensel in a Facebook Live chat that took place at IFT17 on June 27.
The companies interviewed—Nima, Bugeater Foods, and Quigistics—are just three of eight companies that exhibited in the IFTNEXT Start-Up Alley at IFT17. Watch the Facebook Live interview and find out more about the start-ups below.
All Things Bugs: Our goal is to develop sustainable food products made from insects as primary or secondary ingredients. Through our patented process, we manufacture and sell high quality Finely Milled Whole Cricket Powder at the most wholesale price.
Ancient Brands Grains: We believe in providing the natural and organic food industry with the highest quality puffed grains and ingredients. We purchase the highest quality grains—normally small run ancient grains—and use the latest German puffing machine technology.
Bugeater Foods: We are a product development company striving to make nutritious, delicious, and sustainable food. We use crickets, ground to a powder, as a key ingredient in a line of protein powders, pasta and rice products.
MeWe: We build mobile software to manage compliance, quality assurance, and brand standards. MeWe Co-Inspect is trusted by leading restaurant chains, hospitality groups, manufacturers, and government agencies.
Nima Labs: A discreet, portable gluten tester that allows consumers to test meals for gluten in minutes. Nima can detect gluten down to 20 parts per million, which is the FDA classification for gluten-free products.
Quigistics: We help you organize your business with a collection of cloud-based business apps available on computers and mobile devices to make FSMA compliance easy so you can focus on your core business. Quigistics integrates with your existing accounting software.
RogoHub: With web-based RogoHub, you can transform your silent samples into vocal sales “people” and intelligence “officers” who collect data and report back to you. RogoHub enables vendors to reduce costs and streamline the sample process for themselves and their customers.
SEVENx: For the first time, fresh milk can be super-concentrated with almost twice the water removal as current technologies have allowed with up to 94% of water drawn out. Our next generation of milk creates new ways to sell the dairy industry’s product.