Foodtech ecosystem: Symrise KitchenTown partnership to shape a “sustainable food system”

02 Apr 2020 --- Symrise has partnered with KitchenTown Berlin, a food tech innovation network set up to positively impact the food system. KitchenTown will create an active global community of food entrepreneurs and innovators. With KitchenTown providing the infrastructure and network in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Symrise will contribute guidance, to jointly deploy the right tools at the right time, the flavors company highlights.

Modern consumers expect food companies to invest in sustainability, pursue their ethical responsibilities and ensure the communities where they operate address poverty reduction, sustainable food security and societal well-being, without any negative environmental impact. 

Highlighting “The Sustain Domain” as a top trend for 2020, Innova Market Insights underscores how consumers expect companies to invest in sustainability. Its research also indicates that, on average, 85 percent of US and UK consumers expected companies to invest in sustainability in 2019 – up from 64 percent in 2018. 

KitchenTown offers an accelerator program where start-ups can apply for funding and venture development.“As the world around is changing quickly, we’re here to help feed it,” says Lukas Neuß, Co-Founder of KitchenTown Berlin. Providing new perspectives for the food and beverage retail landscape through often impact driven brands is KitchenTown’s mandate.”

KitchenTown drives new market ideas to testing level at a fast pace. To achieve the development, commercialization and launch of impact driven and transformational food products, KitchenTown creates an active global community of food entrepreneurs and innovators to support one another and create a new sustainable food system. Interested parties can join KitchenTown through memberships and use its facilities and know-how. Additionally, KitchenTown offers an accelerator program where start-ups can apply for funding and venture development.

Symrise leverages the state-of-the-art food facility and co-working spaces to facilitate collaboration and co-creation between its taste experts, foodies, entrepreneurs and their customers – the manufacturers of F&B products. 

“We have entered the innovation network to ideate, create and grow new food and beverage ideas in the smartest way possible. We are one of the founders of the flavor industry and a provider of taste with food ingredients expertise and distinct product development capabilities. We look forward to partnering with KitchenTown Berlin and its start-up ecosystem,” comments Heinrich Schaper, President Flavor at Symrise. 

Founders gain access to 1,000 m2 of innovation space, tailored to the needs of food and food tech thought leaders, including a development lab, small batch production facilities, as well as a coworking and event space located in the heart of Berlin, amidst the capital’s start-up scene.

“KitchenTown Berlin is a great partner for agile development projects” continues Schaper. “At Symrise we regard collaboration in open ecosystems and strategic partnerships as important enablers for long-term business success. It is a pleasure to connect customers and taste industry experts with innovators and thought leaders, while accelerating their innovation cycle,” he notes. 

Edited by Elizabeth Green