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PR Newswire

Instacart Acquires FoodStorm, Introduces New Prepared Meals and Order-Ahead Enterprise Technology Solution for Retailers Across North America

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Instacart Will Integrate FoodStorm’s Technology into Its Leading Enterprise Offering, Enabling Retail Partners to Automate Their Catering and Prepared Foods Operations & Provide Customers with a More Seamless Grocery Meals Experience 

FoodStorm’s Talented Team Will Join Instacart as Part of the Acquisition

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 8, 2021 — Instacart, the leading online grocery platform in North America, today announced its acquisition of FoodStorm, a SaaS order management system (OMS) that powers end-to-end order-ahead and catering experiences for grocery retailers. With this acquisition, Instacart is expanding its enterprise technology portfolio to further support its retail partners’ ecommerce needs, investing in more innovative technology solutions that help retailers grow, compete, and better meet the evolving needs of their customers. 

The process for ordering prepared foods from grocers typically requires customers to call the store or place an order in-person – a labor-intensive and inefficient process that often results in both missed sales opportunities for retailers and a cumbersome customer experience. FoodStorm helps solve this problem by creating a more seamless experience for both retailers and customers. FoodStorm has developed a comprehensive SaaS offering that covers multi-channel ordering – ecommerce, phone or in-store kiosk – order management, and payment and fulfillment. Its technology also integrates easily with a large variety of third-party systems including point of sale systems (POS) and offers customer relationship management (CRM) capabilities that help grocers collect feedback, market their offerings and leverage promotional features. 

FoodStorm was founded 14 years ago and has developed strong partnerships with a number of Instacart’s existing retail partners including Albertsons Companies banners Balducci’s and Kings Food Markets, as well as Bi-Rite Market, Mollie Stone’s Markets, Uncle Giuseppe’s and Roche Brothers Supermarkets. Looking ahead, Instacart will make FoodStorm’s technology available to more retailers through Instacart’s leading enterprise technology offering. In addition to acquiring FoodStorm’s technology and tools, Instacart is also excited to welcome the talented FoodStorm team, which is based in the U.S. and Melbourne, Australia to Instacart.

"As a retailer enablement platform, Instacart is focused on growing our partners’ businesses by investing in innovative new technologies and services that deliver significant value to them and their customers," said Mark Schaaf, Chief Technology Officer, Instacart. "Our goal is to help our retail partners increase their sales and ensure more of their customers’ everyday meals come from the grocery store. That’s why we’re excited to welcome the talented FoodStorm team to Instacart and integrate their end-to-end order-ahead and catering platform into Instacart’s leading enterprise offering. For retailers, this new enterprise solution helps them bring even more of their inventory online, enhance their ecommerce capabilities, grow their business and meet the evolving needs of their customers. And, for customers, this unlocks a healthier, more affordable alternative to restaurant delivery – creating an easier way for people to order prepared foods online directly from their favorite grocers." 

Order-ahead technology solutions provide grocery retailers with a significant growth opportunity. On the Instacart platform, customers who purchase prepared foods and catering items like hot and cold side dishes, cakes and sushi from the grocery store have significantly larger baskets and shop more frequently than those customers who do not. For retailers, order-ahead items and prepared foods are also typically more profitable than traditional groceries like produce and package goods.  

"I’m incredibly proud of what the FoodStorm team has achieved for our partners. We’ve developed market-leading software that makes it easier for grocers to execute on prepared food and catering orders more efficiently, and track everything from one central location. This is a huge growth opportunity for grocers, and we’ve seen increased demand for our products as more customers are searching for seamless online and in-store ordering capabilities," said FoodStorm CEO Rob Hill. "Grocery is an incredibly complex retail category, making the need for enterprise-grade solutions like FoodStorm and Instacart critical to the long-term success of the industry we all rely on to put food on our tables. We’re excited about this next chapter as we join the Instacart team and create new ways for retailers to serve the ever-changing needs of their businesses and customers." 

"Delivering a world-class customer experience and excellent prepared foods is the mission of our business, and FoodStorm and Instacart have helped us do just that," said Russell McVeigh, Catering Director at Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace. "Once we deployed FoodStorm’s technology, online sales doubled and we were able to be more innovative with our menus because of the increased visibility FoodStorm’s platform provides. Both FoodStorm and Instacart have been critical to our growth and ability to serve our customers, and we’re excited to see what compelling enterprise products they’ll develop together."

"Both Instacart and FoodStorm have been important partners in bringing our business online and have opened up brand new sales and customer service channels for us," said Adam Laliberte, Director of Food Services at Roche Brothers Supermarkets. "Before FoodStorm, our software systems weren’t compatible with our catering needs and we had a limited online presence which meant we were missing out on a huge opportunity. Because of Foodstorm’s flexible and easily configurable technology, we’ve seen an increase in our catering business and have the ability to manage this increase more efficiently so that our teams can focus more on our customers. I’m thrilled that they are now joining forces with Instacart and we’re excited to see what enterprise offerings they’ll bring to market together."

Instacart’s enterprise technology today powers the comprehensive ecommerce platforms of more than 175 local, regional and national grocers across North America, including Costco Canada, Heinen’s, Sprouts, The Fresh Market, and Wegmans. Instacart first began offering enterprise technology to grocery partners in 2017. Since then, the company has continued to make significant investments in its enterprise business, scaling its engineering team and developing new technologies for grocers.  

About Instacart 
Instacart is the leading online grocery platform in North America. Instacart shoppers offer same-day delivery and pickup services to bring fresh groceries and everyday essentials to busy people and families across the U.S. and Canada. Instacart has partnered with more than 600 beloved national, regional and local retailers, including unique brand names, to deliver from nearly 55,000 stores across more than 5,500 cities in North America. Instacart’s platform is available to over 85% of U.S. households and 80% of Canadian households. The company’s cutting-edge enterprise technology also powers the ecommerce platforms of some of the world’s biggest retail players, supporting their white-label websites, applications and delivery solutions. Instacart offers an Instacart Express membership that includes reduced service fees and unlimited free delivery on orders over $35. For more information, visit www.instacart.com. For anyone interested in becoming an Instacart shopper, visit https://shoppers.instacart.com/.

Instacart Acquires FoodStorm
Instacart Acquires FoodStorm

 

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Related Links :

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PR Newswire

HungryPanda Partners with Caocao Mobility to Launch Airport Transfer Service

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PARIS, Sept. 10, 2021 — Based on the 2020 annual data published by Campus France, overseas students still increased 5% even with the challenge of the pandemic. There are at least 30% overseas students who study in Paris. Furthermore, the number of Chinese students has surpassed 40 thousand and it expects dramatic growth in the 2021-2022 semester.

The Exclusive Partnership between HungryPanda and Caocao Mobility Paris
The Exclusive Partnership between HungryPanda and Caocao Mobility Paris

The surge in the number of students also brings new problems for the start of the school season. Many of the new students are leaving the country for the first time and coming to France to study. But with the impact of the pandemic, everything is much more complicated than before. In addition to preparing a ton of administrative documents, Chinese students have to get tested, get vaccinated, and keep an eye on the ever-changing entry policies.

After solving all those questions and landing in Paris, students face another problem, which is transport. Most Chinese would carry at least two big suitcases, preventing them to transfer by train, metro or bus. The awaiting taxi also has conflicting fame for their prices for foreigners.

HungryPanda, the leading Asian food delivery company, partners with Caocao Mobility Paris to provide the airport transfer service with a comfortable and safe experience. The airport transfer service will last to 25 September as the first step of the cooperation between these two companies. All Caocao cars prepare drivers who can speak Mandarin for more convenient communication. All drivers have been vaccinated and provide an ultimate experience for Chinese customers.

Caocao Mobility Paris is a new mobility platform offering elegant and spacious vehicles in Paris and its region, accessible to people with reduced mobility and eco-friendly. The company is a French start-up supported by the automotive group Geely and have served more than 30 million passengers.

Through the airport transfer service, HungryPanda aims to provide a one-stop service for overseas Chinese, from transport to food delivery. The exclusive partnership is also a whole new attempt for HungryPanda to expand with more business models. HungryPanda is dedicated to seeking new opportunities to provide premium lifestyle services for overseas Chinese, and establishing a leading platform to support the development of overseas Chinese communities.

PR Newswire

Ninja Survey Finds Gen Z and Millennial Parents Are Bored with Their Recipe Rotation and Looking to Spice Things Up

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Ninja launches Ninja® Foodi® XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid™ to make cooking easier, faster, juicier and crispier results in one Multicooker+

NEEDHAM, Mass., Aug. 18, 2021 — Ninja (HKEX: 1691.HK), the brand in small kitchen appliances*, announced findings from its recent survey surrounding what people look for when cooking and sources of cooking inspiration. While people have been cooking more over the past year, the survey found that a majority of Gen Z and Millennial parents wish they knew more recipes (79%)** and most feel like they cook the same meals all the time (77%).

The survey also found that:

  • 74% of Millennials want to feel more confident in the kitchen, including 80% of Millennial parents
  • Nearly half of Millennials say they are bored with the recipes they know; this boredom increases to 56% when looking at Gen Z and Millennial parents
  • 73% of Gen Z and Millennial parents are looking for recipe inspiration
  • One third of Gen Z and Millennial parents prioritize meals that are quick to make
  • 40% of Gen Z and Millennial parents have trouble following recipes (compared to only 25% of total surveyed)

To help combat kitchen fatigue, today, Ninja unveils its newest innovation, the Ninja® Foodi® XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid™ which offers an efficient way of cooking with its SteamCrisp™ Technology and SmartLid™.  It has three different cooking modes – pressure cook, air fry, and SteamCrisp™ – and 14 cooking functions all under one SmartLid™. Using the SteamCrisp™ Technology, unlock the juiciest way to air fry, prepare 1-touch meals up to 40% faster++, and bake artisan breads and cakes up to 25% faster***.

The Ninja® Foodi® XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid™ offers three cooking modes and 14 cooking functions under one lid. It is available in an 8-qt capacity for $329.99 at NinjaKitchen.com.
The Ninja® Foodi® XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid™ offers three cooking modes and 14 cooking functions under one lid. It is available in an 8-qt capacity for $329.99 at NinjaKitchen.com.

As consumers are eager for new food ideas and gaining kitchen confidence, Ninja released its inaugural SmartLid™ SmartList, a quintessential compellation of modern recipes and food prep techniques to enable home cooks to keep their bustling kitchen bursting with delicious inspiration and cook more efficiently.

Ninja also partnered with Eitan Bernath, a chef, digital content creator and principal culinary contributor for the "Drew Barrymore Show" on CBS, to share tips on how to make cooking easier and more fun with Ninja’s latest product innovation.

"I’m excited to partner with Ninja to share cooking tricks and highlight the new Ninja® Foodi® XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid™," said Eitan Bernath. "It makes cooking easier, more efficient and fun, which people are craving as they’re busy returning to the office and kids are going back to school."

The Ninja® Foodi® XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid™ is available in an 8-qt capacity for $329.99 at NinjaKitchen.com. Its 14 functions include:

  • Pressure Cook
  • Steam & Crisp
  • Steam & Bake
  • Air Fry
  • Broil
  • Bake/Roast
  • Dehydrate
  • Sear/Sauté
  • Steam
  • Sous Vide
  • Slow Cook
  • Yogurt
  • Keep Warm
  • Proof

SmartLid™ represents the latest example of the synergies found between SharkNinja and Joyoung engineering teams, (under the parent company, JS Global Lifestyle) whose collaboration on this project have allowed us to bring this exciting new product to the world.

**All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1260 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 21st – 22nd July 2021. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18+) with a margin of error of +/- 3% at 95% confidence.

++ Versus traditional cooking methods

***Versus traditional oven

+ Vesus Ninja Foodi OL601 in Dry Mode Only

About Ninja: 

What we believe 

You can make it. 

Ninja believes that if you want to cook at home, you can. If you want to experiment more with recipes and ingredients, you can. If you want to cook dinner every single night, you can. If you want to be proud of what you’re serving your family, you, without a doubt, can. We design tools and appliances that help you achieve endless opportunities with food, regardless of how much experience you have. It is our belief that if you have the desire to cook, that you can make it, and we’re here to help you do it in ways that are fast, easy, and delicious.

PR Newswire

Meituan Launches Green Tech Fund, and Other Initiatives on World Environment Day

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HONG KONG, June 5, 2021 — Meituan (HKG: 3690) (the "Company"), China’s leading e-commerce platform for services, today announced the launch of the Meituan Green Tech Fund and a series of green initiatives to celebrate World Environment Day.

Meituan is allocating an initial amount of RMB 500 million for the Meituan Green Tech Fund to drive low-carbon green development together with industry organizations, researchers and scientists. In response to China’s carbon neutral efforts as a whole, this particular initiative aims to support the research and application of green technologies through charitable causes. 

The United Nations has designated June 5th as World Environment Day, with this year’s theme: "Reimagine.Recreate.Restore." While this day has been celebrated since 1972, recent challenges caused by climate change and COVID-19 have brought environmental issues into focus with a greater sense of urgency. Meituan’s efforts strongly align with the United Nations’ goal of ecosystem restoration, and this new fund furthers the Company’s existing sustainability commitments.

The fund will focus on two initiatives, the Meituan Green Tech Award and a demonstration project. The Meituan Green Tech Award will support emerging researchers’ and scientists’ studies on fundamental technologies that support China’s low-carbon and circular development strategy. The demonstration project will encourage innovative applications in eco-friendly packaging, recycling, and smart supply chain operations.

This year, the Meituan Green Tech Award plans to support 10 researchers who focus on green and low-carbon packaging, carbon capture and utilization, low-carbon transport and energy storage studies, allocating a one million RMB award to each of them. The demonstration project will consist of 10 entities that deploy innovative applications in food delivery green packaging, plastics recycling, and big data supply chain developments, with a one to three million RMB fund designated for each of them.

Applications for both the tech award and the demonstration project will officially open for registration in late August, 2021.

Meituan is also launching a "carbon account" for its delivery merchants and users. Starting June 9th, merchants will be able to log and track their environmental protection efforts in their merchant app, including data on their reduction of disposable products and use of recycled packaging. Users can now track their carbon footprints in the Meituan app, by monitoring their "no-disposable cutlery" order history and eco-friendly transportation mileage data, which is accumulated through shared Meituan Bikes rides.

Meituan launched the Blue Mountain Project (青山计划) in August 2017 to drive sustainability efforts in the food delivery industry, bringing together merchants and users to participate in environmental protection initiatives. As part of its green life cycle management philosophy, Meituan Bikes recycles disposed polyurethane tires from its shared bikes and electric mopeds, using the material to build running tracks and sports grounds for people in remote areas. As of today, Meituan has created 10 such sports grounds in provinces such as Sichuan and Guizhou, benefiting over 5,000 students and residents. The Company plans to donate an additional 10 sports grounds by 2022.

A sports ground donated to a rural primary school in Sichuan province, created with recycled materials from 3,500 Meituan Bikes tires
A sports ground donated to a rural primary school in Sichuan province, created with recycled materials from 3,500 Meituan Bikes tires

About Meituan

Meituan (HKG: 3690) (the "Company") is China’s leading e-commerce platform for services. With the mission of "We help people eat better, live better," the Company’s platform uses technology to connect consumers and merchants. Service offerings on the platform address people’s daily needs for food, and extend further to broad lifestyle and travel services. Meituan is the world’s leading on-demand food delivery service provider and China’s leading e-commerce platform for in-store dining services. Meituan helps consumers discover merchant information, make informed decisions, complete online and offline transactions and enjoy on-demand delivery. The Company currently owns several household brands in China, including Meituan, China’s leading online marketplace for services, Dianping, China’s leading online destination for discovering local services, Meituan Waimai for on-demand delivery services, and Meituan Bikes for bike-sharing services. Meituan has 569.3 million Annual Transacting Users and 7.1 million Annual Active Merchants as of March 31, 2021. The Company operates in over 2,800 cities and counties in China.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Meituan
pr.global@meituan.com

Edmond Lococo
ICR Inc.
Email: Edmond.Lococo@icrinc.com
Tel: +86 138-1079-1408

Related Links :

https://www.meituan.com/

PR Newswire

New video highlights Slovenia’s green gastronomy as one of the key reasons to visit in 2021

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LJUBLJANA, Slovenia, May 21, 2021 — As Slovenia slowly begins to reopen to tourists, the country has unveiled a new ‘Slovenian gastronomy’ video that offers an insight into why it is the perfect choice for a culinary adventure holiday, and also explores the close connection between first time Michelin stars awarded chefs, producers and the natural world. A dedication to sustainability in all areas have led to Slovenia having been named European Region of Gastronomy 2021 as well as being recognised as one of Europe’s most exciting new culinary capitals.

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To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: 
https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8899151-video-highlights-slovenias-green-gastronomy-as-one-of-the-key-reasons-to-visit-in-2021/

Slovenia: Europe’s Most Exciting New Culinary Capital 

As the new video showcases, the unique advantage of Slovenian chefs is their privileged access to local ingredients. Slovenian culinary philosophy is based on the principle ‘from the garden to table’ and this is reflected in the close relationships between chefs and local producers, as well as the deep connections between Slovenian landscapes and traditional culinary experiences.

A unique insight into Slovenian gastronomy

Through the video, viewers will get to know the character and life of all six owners of a coveted Michelin star (Hiša Franko, two Michelin star Restaurant,  Hiša Denk, Atelje Restaurant, Vila Podvin, Dam Restaurant and Gostilna pri Lojzetu, all one Michelin star Restaurants), and explore how their relationships with local producers help define and inspire their world class culinary creations. Chefs Ana Roš, Gregor Vračko, Jorg Zupan, Uroš Štefelin, Uroš Fakuč and Tomaž Kavčič are all presented in the video with the opportunity for viewers to share their vision, dedicated work, passion and love for food and the environment.

Of course, no video about Slovenia would be complete without a look at the unspoiled nature and environment that helps create such a variety of unique local ingredients. It also includes a look at Slovenia’s award-winning winemakers, who are now being recognised by experts such as Decanter magazine as some of the best in the world. 

The video was created in collaboration with the Slovenian Tourist Board with renowned National Geographic photographer and director Ciril Jazbec, internationally renowned director of photography Sven Pepeonik and food stylist Gruša Zorn.

To watch the new video visit: https://ter.li/wo2y9m

For more information about Slovenia’s gastronomic scene, and to plan your own Slovenian culinary adventure, visit: https://www.tasteslovenia.si/en/

Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTKK9a5IjpA  
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New video highlights Slovenia's green gastronomy as one of the key reasons to visit in 2021
New video highlights Slovenia’s green gastronomy as one of the key reasons to visit in 2021

 

 

 

PR Newswire

TCP Group attends the first CICPE, contributing to the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port

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HAIKOU, China, May 7, 2021 — Hosted by China’s Ministry of Commerce and the Hainan provincial government, the first China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) , the largest consumer goods boutique exhibition in the Asia-Pacific region, is being held at the Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center. TCP Group, the inventors and owners of the Red Bull brand and trademarks in China and globally, have brought its diversified product portfolio from its global ‘House of Brands‘, including Red Bull, to CICPE. While bringing classic flavor and even more innovative products to Chinese consumers, TCP is also contributing to Hainan’s development as an international hub for tourism consumption.

TCP’s booth at the first China International Consumer Products Expo
TCP’s booth at the first China International Consumer Products Expo

TCP’s participation in CICPE is not only a homeward journey marking the company’s return to Hainan, where it first entered the China market nearly three decades ago, but also signals TCP’s commitment to supporting Hainan’s development as an important new global window for opening up, sharing, innovation and cooperation. TCP is committed to providing Chinese consumers with high-quality and legal Red Bull products and hopes to contribute to China’s beverage industry and the wider economy through a strategy focused on long-term investment and constant innovation. TCP also aims to support the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port by contributing to the implementation of the Overall Plan for the Hainan Free Trade Port through practical actions and facilitating greater cooperation with high-quality resources in the global consumer economy.

The product line of TCP’s Global Brand House
The product line of TCP’s Global Brand House

At CICPE, Red Bull’s booth was launched under the theme "Red Bull’s Homecoming and Innovation for the Future", demonstrating TCP’s determination to pursue cooperation for common growth with Hainan. The booth features the gold can Red Bull, representing joint prosperity and excitement. The main body of the booth is surrounded by streamlined ribbons, which symbolize the feeling of returning home. The red, yellow, and blue colors of the main body complement each other, representing the commitment of TCP and the Hainan Free Trade Port to look back at the past together, make progress together, and innovate for the future.

TCP’s booth at the first China International Consumer Products Expo
TCP’s booth at the first China International Consumer Products Expo

In addition to the creative booth design, TCP also brought its global ‘House of Brands’ product lines to the exhibition. Red Bull®️An Nai Ji Drink and Red Bull®️Vitamin Flavor Drink, the Red Bull products that have been favored by consumers since their launch, have attracted significant attention at the exhibition site. These two products were successfully launched after TCP announced a new business model and new partnerships in June 2019, with the aim of continuing to deepen its presence in the Chinese market. Red Bull® An Nai Ji Drink, featuring American ginseng extract, is a new flavor for the Red Bull product line launched by TCP, mainly aimed at members of China’s younger generation who are constantly willing to try new things. Red Bull® Vitamin Flavor Drink, as a hero product of TCP Group, is aimed at the brand’s many loyal Chinese consumers who are fans of the classic taste of Red Bull.

In addition to Red Bull, TCP also brought Ready, one of Thailand’s most popular premium energy drinks, and Sponsor, Thailand’s number one electrolyte drink, as well as the best-selling functional drink Mansome and Sunsnack.

Visitors try TCP products at Red Bull booth
Visitors try TCP products at Red Bull booth

As an international brand that has invested in the Chinese market for nearly 30 years, TCP has a deep and longstanding relationship with Hainan. Wenchang is the ancestral homeland of Mr. Chaleo Yoovidhya, the inventor of Red Bull. In 1993, Red Bull’s first factory in China, Hainan Red Bull Energy Drink Co. Ltd. was established in Qiongzhou. Mr. Saravoot Yoovidhya, CEO of TCP Group, pays close attention to the local development of Hainan and the business layout in China, hoping to make contributions to local economic development with the help of the influence of the Red Bull brand.

Keynote Speech for CICPE from Mr. Saravoot Yoovidhya
Keynote Speech for CICPE from Mr. Saravoot Yoovidhya

Discussing the significance of the first CICPE and the strategic layout of TCP’s future business, Mr. Saravoot Yoovidhya said, "TCP and the Yoovidhya family view CICPE as an incredible opportunity to pursue common development together with the Hainan Free Trade Port. At the same time, under the guidance of the 14th Five-Year Plan and the Long-Range Objectives through 2035, TCP will further promote the transition of the industry towards a model focused on upgrading consumption, driving innovation, and fostering more sustainable development, all with a view to better meeting the needs of Chinese consumers."

PR Newswire

Registration Now Open for FIRST, Institute of Food Technologists’ New Digital Experience

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CHICAGO, April 28, 2021 — Registration is now open for Food Improved by Research, Science, and Technology (FIRST), a new digital experience powered by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT). Programming and presentations will take place virtually from July 19-21, 2021 while the Solution Exchange will be offered from July 19-23, 2021.

Trained chef, television personality, and author Carla Hall will serve as host for the three-day event. Keynote speakers are Ambassador Ertharin Cousin, Founder and CEO of Food Systems for the Future and Dr. Lisa Dyson, Founder & CEO of Air Protein. Claire Schlemme, Founder and CEO of Renewal Mill and winner of IFT’s inaugural IFTNEXT Food Disruption Challenge pitch event, will host this year’s IFTNEXT Food Disruption Challenge.

"As a science of food and innovation community, IFT is uniquely positioned to convene global experts, entrepreneurs, and solution providers to collectively discuss and ignite new and innovative ways to solve our greatest food-related challenges," said IFT CEO Christie-Tarantino Dean. "While we can’t be physically together, IFT is excited to launch FIRST and provide attendees with a personalized, solution-packed forum to solve problems, share knowledge, and expand strategic connections."

New this year, FIRST will feature a robust matchmaking program called FIRST Solution Exchange, which will offer customized supplier recommendations, curate one-on-one meetings, and feature interactive showrooms. Extending this experience will be Solution Suites, a comprehensive virtual marketplace where participants can peruse supplier showrooms to learn and engage with experts about the latest products and services.

Other key aspects of the digital experience include:

  • Curated Scientific Program: The scientific programming will focus on answering the question "Zero Hunger: Will we get there?" Sessions will feature the latest insights, research, and industry solutions aimed at addressing the global hunger crisis.
  • Supplier Showcase: Attendees will gain insights into emerging trends, access valuable business resources, and make strategic connections through interactive and on-demand presentations and showcases from suppliers, all designed to further career and business opportunities.
  • Startup Central: Innovative startup companies from around the globe will showcase their products and services as part of Startup Central. Startup programming and networking opportunities will also be offered for anyone interested in furthering their food science and business acumen and expanding their professional ecosystem.

To learn more and register, please visit iftevent.org.

About IFT
The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) is a global organization of approximately 12,000 individual members from 95 countries committed to advancing the science of food. Since 1939, IFT has brought together the brightest minds in food science, technology and related professions from academia, government, and industry to solve the world’s greatest food challenges. Our organization works to ensure that our members have the resources they need to learn, grow, and advance the science of food as the population and the world evolve. We believe that science is essential to ensuring a global food supply that is sustainable, safe, nutritious, and accessible to all. For more information, please visit ift.org.

 

Related Links :

http://www.ift.org

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In Its Second Year Of Activity, The European Art Of Taste Confirms The Potential Of Italian Fruit And Vegetables In China, Japan And China Taiwan

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– Although the impact of Covid-19 has complicated communication and exchange between the EU and Asian countries, the interest of consumers and professionals in made in Italy fruit and vegetables has continued to increase.

BOLOGNA, Italy, April 26, 2021 — The second year of The European Art of Taste, the project funded by the European Union to enhance knowledge of Italian fruit and vegetables in China, Japan and China Taiwan, confirmed the growth trend. In Asia, Italian fruit and vegetables are popular thanks to their taste quality and an extraordinary ability to communicate their values in terms of tradition, production competence and taste excellence.

Despite a complex year like 2020, marked by the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent limitations, The European Art of Taste was able to keep active the communication channel with consumers and professionals by participating in digital fairs, proposing events and targeted work on the press. The result of the press releases, for a total of 30 communications sent in target countries, marked an estimated total reach of over 12 billion users, thanks to the work carried out together with journalists and bloggers who spread the news. In fact, over 1000 press officers were involved for each single issue.

The work of the press office has decisively supported the dissemination of knowledge about the products among consumers, opinion leaders and professionals, marking a positive value in terms of awareness of made in Italy fruit and vegetable and processed products. This is also accompanied by the results of the social networks on WeChat, Weibo (with a reach of 27 million users), Facebook (+3 million users reached) and Instagram (+ 50 million impressions). The website confirmed its potential by reaching over 40.000 users and more than 50.000 visits, becoming the reference point for knowing the particularities of fruit and vegetables produced in Italy by Conserve Italia, Origine Group, Jingold, Joinfruit, King Fruit, Mazzoni, RK Growers and Oranfrizer, leading companies in the Italian and European sector.

The European Art of Taste project will continue in 2021 with its third year, focusing more and more on digital while waiting to be able to return to normal and involve consumers, journalists and professionals in incoming, in-store events and fairs.

For further information and details: www.europeanartoftaste.com; www.europeanartoftaste.ch

 

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INC’s Real Power for Real People Campaign Shows the “Real Power” of Nuts and Dried Fruits to Millions Around the World

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The Real Power for Real People dissemination campaign has impacted millions of consumers and showed the "real power" of nuts and dried fruits and its connection to "attitudinal immunity".

REUS, Spain, April 22, 2021 — Launched on October 27, 2020, the Real Power for Real People messaging focused on the concept that consuming nuts and dried fruits provides your body with the "real power" needed to face everyday challenges and be immune to everything. The campaign will be expanded during 2021/2022 to reach new audiences and build on the Real Power for Real People concept.

Campaign Video: https://youtu.be/ElicMmVtg3I

The campaign’s main video, which encourages consumers to add nuts and dried fruits to their daily diet, received over 1,750,000 views on YouTube. The INC also partnered with 30 social media influencers from 17 countries around the world, utilizing their more than 7,000,000 combined followers to further spread the message. In total, influencer posts garnered over 1,500,000 interactions and the campaign’s hashtag #ShareYourNutfruitPower gained over 330 publications.

Moreover, the INC developed a toolkit which enabled INC members to join in and share the Real Power for Real People concept in their own markets. Over 80 INC members signed up to help to spread the goodness of nuts and dried fruits.

INC Executive Director, Goretti Guasch said of the campaign, "Immunity has been pushed to the forefront of all conversations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I am thrilled to see the success this campaign has had in positioning nuts and dried fruits as a healthy option for consumers. We are looking forward to what next year will bring and how we can expand on this message."

About the INC

The INC is the international umbrella organization for the nut and dried fruit industry. Its members include more than 850 nut and dried fruit sector companies from over 80 countries. INC membership represents over 85% of the world’s commercial "farm gate" value of trade in nuts and dried fruits. The INC’s mission is to stimulate and facilitate sustainable growth in the global nut and dried fruit industry. It is the leading international organization on health, nutrition, statistics, food safety, and international standards and regulations regarding nuts and dried fruits.

INC Press Contact:
e-mail press@nutfruit.org
telephone +34 977 331 416

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Alibaba Group’s Daraz Acquires Leading Bangladesh Food Tech Startup HungryNaki to Expand Footprint in South Asia

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  • Alibaba-owned Daraz acquires HungryNaki in a move that welcomes the e-commerce giant into the booming Asian food delivery sector
  • This marks the first full acquisition of a local Bangladesh startup by a global e-commerce company, and allows HungryNaki to scale the hyperlocal delivery scene by tapping into Daraz’s complex infrastructure, technology and resources

DHAKA, Bangladesh, March 18, 2021 — Daraz, a subsidiary of Alibaba Group and Bangladesh’s largest e-commerce marketplace, has announced its acquisition of HungryNaki, the country’s leading homegrown food tech company. This marks the first full acquisition of a local Bangladesh startup by a global e-commerce giant, adding to the overall growth of the Asian startup ecosystem and indicating a shift in confidence towards South Asia, regarding investment and business.

The acquisition was signed with the aim of expanding Daraz’s service offerings across more South Asian markets, while providing HungryNaki with the longstanding expertise and experience in customer service and management that Alibaba Group and Daraz will bring to the table. In order to achieve this, HungryNaki will continue functioning as an independent brand under the group, lending its strong client, customer and logistics network while tapping on Daraz’s sophisticated infrastructure countrywide.

"We aspire to be a one stop solution for all our customers’ needs, and getting into the food delivery business is a natural move. HungryNaki is the pioneer in the food delivery business in Bangladesh with a loyal customer base. We believe, instead of building our own food delivery business from the ground up, acquiring HungryNaki is ideal considering these two factors. We believe, by investing in the infrastructure, technology and human resources, we can take HungryNaki into new heights," said Syed Mostahidal Hoq, Managing Director of Daraz.

A Significant Milestone For South Asia’s Startup Ecosystem and Economy

In recent times, Bangladesh has seen remarkable success in the country’s development and digital transformation, including an above average GDP growth rate of 8%. Contributing to a huge slice of the pie is the hyperlocal food and grocery delivery sector, which is expected to grow to over $5 billion by 2025.

Founded in 2013 by co-founders Ahmad AD, Tausif Ahmad and Sazid Rahman, HungryNaki (to mean "Are you hungry?") is Bangladesh’s first food tech company to introduce on-demand food delivery in under an hour. It has played a monumental role in the evolution of the market, making food delivery accessible to as many people in the country as possible. The rapid expansion of the country and industry, helmed by homegrown technology and startups such as HungryNaki, signifies huge opportunities for South Asia in terms of development, employment and innovation.

"We can definitely say that this is an auspicious moment for all of us because this acquisition by Daraz proves that our e-commerce industry is in an optimistic state. Moreover, this is a positive sign for other local startups, and this kind of acquisition will play a full part in the revival of our economy by expediting positive impacts. We will be working with Daraz to make HungryNaki a formidable player in the market," shared AD Ahmad, CEO and Co-Founder of HungryNaki.

Since its inception, HungryNaki has served more than 500,000 customers and over 4,000 restaurants across Bangladesh’s 5 largest cities, including Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, Cox’s Bazar and Narayanganj. With an investor pool including notable names such as Robintex Group and Asif Rahman, the initially bootstrapped startup had previously raised a total of $2.3 million in funding, including its pre-Series A round and bridge financing, and has since successfully maintained a consistent 76% return user order ratio, which ensures a steady year-on-year growth in revenue of 70-90%.

Being the first food delivery startup in Bangladesh to introduce electric bicycles to its fleet, HungryNaki is also committed to the race towards zero carbon emissions, in order to reduce the company’s carbon footprint and scale in a sustainable manner. Leveraging its existing and new business and partnership networks, including restaurants, cloud kitchens and home kitchen services, HungryNaki will be working towards expanding its reach to over 100 cities, and becoming a crucial player in developing the hyperlocal delivery scene in South Asia.