Nomad Foods, Europe’s leading retail brand frozen food company with a portfolio that includes Birds Eye, Ledo, iglo, Findus, Frikom and other labels, has launched the Future Foods Lab. The venture clienting initiative is in partnership with Innoget, the open innovation and science network for technology, knowledge and capabilities transfer.
The test center will explore market-ready solutions proposed by startup companies to address key business challenges, which can then be piloted and commercially scaled across Europe, presenting opportunities for co-branding and long-term partnerships.
The lab’s first focus will zero in on functional nutrition. With consumers increasingly seeking food that supports immunity, gut health, hydration and energy, Nomad Foods is calling on startups to help redefine what it means to eat well. Key challenges will include enhancing nutritional density without compromising on taste, delivering natural energy and protein-rich options, and innovating with sustainably sourced ingredients. Specifically, the business is interested in ready-to-eat (RTE) and ready-to-cook (RTC) concepts that can cater to a variety of mealtime occasions.
Nomad Foods Chief RDQ Officer Carly Arnold stated: “In today’s rapidly evolving food and nutrition landscape, speed and collaboration are key to staying ahead. That’s why we’ve launched the Future Foods Lab, a dynamic platform designed to connect with high-potential startups and act as an early stage partner in bringing ideas to life. This initiative is more than just a pipeline for new products and ideas though; it’s a strategic commitment to shaping the future of mealtimes through agile, collaborative innovation.”
She added: “By partnering with visionary entrepreneurs and cutting-edge companies, we aim to accelerate the development of healthier, more sustainable frozen food options for consumers across Europe, forging meaningful partnerships that drive real impact along the way.”
Nomad Foods brands have a long heritage of innovation given that its Birds Eye unit pioneered the frozen food category 100 years ago. More recently, the Woking, England-headquartered company has revealed industry-leading research exploring changes to the temperature at which frozen food is stored, from -18°C to -15°C, becoming the first food manufacturer to sign up to the “Move to -15°C” coalition’s effort to cut carbon emissions in the frozen food supply chain.
The Nomad Foods Future Foods Lab is now open for applications. Deadline for submissions is September 30. Interested startup companies can find more information and apply at https://futurefoodslab.com/.
