Introducing The Food Nest: Bringing Food Innovation to Market

Press Release

F&B and food-tech entrepreneurs looking to grow their business from farmers markets to finding home on grocery store shelves have a new option with The Food Nest. The Food Nest is a food and beverage industry accelerator committed to early stage food tech companies with great products and the desire to improve the food supply chain, deliver easy access to nutrition and provide better access to fresh products to all consumers.

The Food Nest’s commitment to building a better network of mentors and entrepreneurs that will pioneer innovation for food and food-tech startups is spearheaded by food industry veteran Eric Quick (Cloud 9 Fresh, Juicero, Froovie Organics and Revolution Foods) and his team.

The Food Nest was launched this morning at BevNET Live Expo. The Food Nest will offer a comprehensive program for startups companies ready for rapid growth. Supported by industry leaders from Go Raw, Odwalla, and New Barn the accelerator’s mentorship will support scaling to turnkey food manufacturing and beyond.

The Food Nest’s approach to the future of food is based on working with companies that are mainly focused on lifestyle, food technology and life science: Those marrying science with food, changing the approach to how we eat healthy, or simply making it an easier decision to start better habits.

Quick said, “We want to see food entrepreneurs, retail and food services and investors culminate around the accelerator as a source for products and offerings that will combine the innovation of technology and sustainability.”

He added, “There is a high rate of failure in this industry. Our goal is to foster growth in companies that despite their limited resources, experience or network, show promise in their founders and offerings.”

For companies working under The Food Nest awning, this includes unlocking their potential by lowering the barriers of entry such as scaling, more access to infrastructure and distribution and connecting with experienced mentors.

Quick commented, “We believe that navigating the food industry has been historically difficult for emerging brands from the challenges in setting up sustainable distribution models geared towards growth to chasing growth without the necessary infrastructure that can lead to costly mistakes.”

The accelerator will be located in the Saratoga Building (2350 Saratoga Street, Alameda, a mixed-use development offering turn-key food manufacturing spaces to tenants) in the Alameda Naval Base. It’s an ideal location for food innovation wedged between Silicon Valley and Napa Wine Country. The Food Nest’s innovation sanctuary will feature test facilities to expedite product development, onsite turnkey food manufacturing and a demo facility.

Tim Connell, SVP Sales & Marketing Koia Plant Powered Nutrition said, “Navigating the food industry has been historically difficult for emerging brands from the challenges in setting up sustainable distribution models geared towards growth to chasing growth without the necessary infrastructure that can lead to costly mistakes. The team at The Food Nest understands this and provides an incredible infrastructure.”

He added, “Great innovators have the vision to see their creations on the grocery store shelf, but don’t know how to get them there. That’s where The Food Nest comes in. Retail and food services do not have in-house skills set for innovation, and at scale no less, they have to struggle to keep up with food trends and compete with on-demand providers. Stores like Costco, Whole Foods, Safeway or Sprouts, for example, with early access to the on-the-ground insights of what startup companies are doing can gain an edge over competitors and provide private labeling.”

To learn more about The Food Nest, Contact [email protected] to meet up at BevNet Conference.

About The Food Nest

The Food Nest is focused on fostering the growth of early stage companies and investing in food, beverage, and technology companies that strive to improve the food supply chain, deliver easy access to nutrition, and provide better access to fresh products to all consumers. For more information visit www.thefoodnest.com.