Currently, the global food industry is influenced by several developments across processes including the way it is designed and consumed. The generation food tech startups are working with the intention to reduce the impact on the environment by adopting innovative and eco-friendly solutions.
The food science companies rethink the production of food products and related ingredients that are intended for the end users or an intermediate processor. And, these startups want to shape up the future of the food industry with their latest tech processes.
Of late, the food tech industry in France secured record funding of over €240 million, which makes the country lead the global food tech ecosystem. Having said that, we at Silicon Canals have listed the fast-growing innovative food tech startups to know about right now as sourced from Dealroom.
InnovaFeed
Founder/s: Aude Guo, Bastien Oggeri, Clement Ray
Founded year: 2016
Funding: €56.8 million
InnovaFeed is a biotech company that comes with natural and sustainable solutions to feed the world. It is involved in producing a new source of protein from insect rearing for animal feed and aquaculture. InnovaFeed’s insect rearing process also produces insect oil rich in lauric acid and organic fertiliser.
It is equipped with the largest production capacity in the market and expertise in biotech research. InnovaFeed’s activity responds competitively to an increase in protein demand without comprising on sustainability. This startup aims to achieve a production capacity of over 10,000 tonnes per year before it expands its international operations in 2022.
Algama
Founder/s: Alvyn Severien, Gaetan Gohin
Founded year: 2013
Funding: €3.5 million
Algama, a French food tech company harvests the potential of algae to create food that is good for both the planet and people. The company selects the most promising algae and transforms the same into actionable ingredients. These ingredients are used to develop sustainable alternatives to animal-based products such as meat or eggs.
Algama focuses on consumers’ food habits and preferences and co-brands innovative as well as tasty products for them. The mission of this food tech startup is to share a more positive vision for food, democratise plant-based proteins and pioneer food innovations in high-growth markets with algae.
Onatera
Founder/s: Davy Drezet, Sonia D’Ambrosio
Founded year: 2011
Funding: €10 million
Onatera is a pioneer in natural health and beauty industry. It works with the objective to search, detect, and select the best brands and provide these products online at affordable prices so that everyone can approach health and beauty in a different manner. The company has a strong expertise in naturopathy enabling them to provide superior quality products.
Onatera is a leading provider in the e-commerce industry involved in selling natural health and beauty products and it collaborates with exclusive brands including Selva Sana, Orfito, Terraïa, Cosmesana and Sana Gaïa.
LÉA NATURE
Founder/s: Charles Kloboukoff
Founded year: 1993
Funding: NA
LÉA NATURE is an independent French company that was established with the aim of making natural and organic certified products that are kind to people and the environment and available to everyone. It is a leading specialist in natural health, food, and beauty products industry in France.
This food tech company designs, manufactures and markets over 1000 references of organic and natural products. Its products are distributed to organic stores, drugstores, pharmacies, e-commerce, export, and out-of-home catering services. It focuses on the ideology of offering a natural alternative to mass-marketed agro-chemical products.
Ynsect
Founder/s: Alexis Angot, Fabrice Berro, Antoine Hubert, Jean Gabriel Levon
Founded year: 2011
Funding: €155 million
Ynsect is a French agritech startup, which produces insect-based animal food. This startup uses scalable and unique technology and breeds insects to product premium ingredients for organic plant fertilisers, pet food and fish feed. Ynsect is the world’s largest insect producer touted to product nearly 20,000 tons of protein per year.
The Paris-based startup aims to become a global leader in insect-based protein production for fish and animal feed. It promises to develop a more sustainable alternative to protein sources like soy that takes up large amounts of soil, land and water resources for its production. Last year, the company officially launched its first fully-automated industrial facility for the production of premium insect protein.
Solina Group
Founder/s: Eric Terré
Founded year: 2012
Funding: NA
Solina is one of the leading ingredients provider for the savoury food industry. It creates unique sensory food experiences and draws an unrivalled expertise to create innovative food solutions. The company contributes to the production of food that is delicious, healthy and environment friendly. Each solution offered by Solina is a result of the company’s experience.
This innovative food tech startup provides customised ingredient solutions for its clients in the savoury food industry, butchery and food service markets. It offers meat products, prepared meals, vegetarian foods, snacks, sauces, and nutritional products. It has 18 production sites and 14 R&D centres and services over 18,000 clients in 75 countries.
Charles & Alice
Director: Stephanie JACQ
Founded year: 1999
Funding: NA
Charles & Alice produces fruit desserts in various flavours. Well, the company is specialised in producing healthy fruit snacks, cooked Mediterranean vegetables and applesauce in the south-east of France. These are sold under Charles & Alice brand in the retail and food service. It focuses on core values such as quality, creativity, passion, taste and generosity.
Main image picture credits: Ynsect
