Foodpreneurs revamp traditional recipes to kickstart their businesses
Entries of the start-ups competition have increased threefold from 13 percent last 2015.
More than a third (35%) of start-ups who entered Foodpreneur 2017 sell products with a health-based benefit, such as gluten free or sugar free offerings, compared to 21% in 2015. 28% of this year’s entrants – up from 16% in 2015 – also now cater for a purely plant-based diet. In addition, there were small increases in the number of start-ups intent on eliminating food waste as part of their business.
The trends among entries reflect some of the forecasts for the food industry made by analysts Mintel earlier this year, which predicted that consumers would be more likely to seek out all-natural products and healthier food in 2017.
intu chief executive David Fischel said, “We know from our history of spotting and introducing ideas to the retail market that the most successful new businesses will tap into evolving trends to develop products that are right for the modern consumer. The entrants to Foodpreneur 2017 are no exception, with a range of new food and drink brands that have been expertly developed with today’s customer in mind.
“Foodpreneur 2017 is shining a light on these creative and innovative new businesses and helping them to flourish with space in our shopping centres and online where they will have access to millions of intu customers nationwide.”
Following the semi-final stage of the competition, four finalists will be selected to present their business to celebrity judges Levi Roots, Clean Eating Alice, Paul Lindley and Jim Cregan as they compete to win six weeks of space at an intu shopping centre and online at intu.co.uk.
