From fixing the fibre gap, to allergy-friendly innovation for kids and GLP-1 supporting gut shots, expectations of the food industry have never been higher.
That’s why, at Mista’s annual Growth Hack, the solutions weren’t theoretical – they were plated up as working prototypes, each designed to deliver on health, sustainability and flavour.
The platform exists to bring together food-tech entrepreneurs and ingredient majors like Givaudan and Ingredion to solve real-world issues through food innovation. At its annual hack, those players assemble in collaborative labs to work in short sprints designed to deliver edible concepts that reimagine what’s possible.
“We facilitate the ability of companies and individuals to experience new ways of working,” says Scott May, head of Mista. “It is rare that individuals from established ingredient companies and technology start-ups have a chance to collaborate in a safe, curated and neutral environment. We try to remove the barriers, reduce friction and red tape, and create conditions where scientists and developers from multiple companies feel free to explore, experience and solve problems together.”
And while the prototypes they cook up may not hit shelves tomorrow, they offer a glimpse of what’s possible when collaboration replaces competition.
“There is a strong willingness to share and learn,” says Celine Schiff-Deb, Mista chief science officer. “The large company participants are able to remove constraints, experience new tech, share learnings with peers and think outside the box, while the entrepreneurs gain tremendous insights into what the large companies are looking for and get a dose of reality around how their technologies will need to perform in a commercial setting. This format leads to real transformation in attitudes and perspectives.”
It also leads to a mesmerising menu of prototypes. Innovating within three sectors (centre of plate, snacks and functional beverages), here are six highlights that challenge how we imagine the future of food.
Center of the plate
1. Lox & Luxe Protein Snack Pack
Proof that sustainable, wholesome food innovation doesn’t have to be basic, comes this sophisticated snack option. With cultivated salmon from Wild Type that avoids the overfishing and heavy-metal concerns of the analogue version, crackers packed with postbiotic proteins from SuperBrewed Food (if you were wondering what’s next on the functional ingredient frontier, it’s this: proteins that are doing double duty with gut health) and an indulgent chive-studded cream cheese that’s animal-free.
2. Wowbutter and Jelly Sammy
With stealth health top of mind for parents, this lunch box-ready concept is designed to be weapons-grade irresistible for picky eaters. It is packed with extra protein and fibre in the bread and ‘peanut butter’ made with start-up PerFat’s precision fermented better for you oils, and zero peanuts to avoid allergen risk. Sugar reduction and sustainability are boosted with the addition of bee-free honey from Mindful Fud in the jelly, all combining to deliver nutrient density wrapped up in family-friendly familiarity.
Snacking
3. HappyBiome Protein Puffs
A masterclass in next-gen processing, these moreish snacks curb cravings thanks to protein from state-of-the-art Finnish food-tech disruptor Solar Foods that has reached commercial scale with its precision fermented Solein ingredient, and Every’s egg-free OvoPro solution. With up to 15g of protein per serving, it proves the satiating potential of between-meals snacks.
4. Dubai crown cookie
Hopping on the pistachio trend train comes this example of permissible indulgence. The Dubai Cookie harnesses Oobli’s sweet protein ingredient to keep sugar low and upcycled hemp fibre made by Brightseed to boost gut health. It features another top trend too, mood-boosting botanicals which show up here in the form of sage extracts from Ayana Bio.
Beverages
5. Blue wave brain shot
Taking inspiration from the ocean, this brain shot is a biohacker’s dream with three functional ingredients designed to target brain health and cognition. These include Mara’s DHA from microalgae oil, providing a sustainable omega-3, anti-inflammatory lab-grown spirulina from Arborea and memory enhancing marine whey protein derived using fermentation from chlorella microalgae rather than dairy sources.
6. GLP-1 support shot
And finally, the ultimate companion product for GLP-1 users comes in the form of this on-the-go shot that combines muscle-supporting 21g of protein alongside vitamins A, D and E encapsulated for bioavailability and stability by Infusd and ginger extract to fight nausea.
For more on reformulation and functional ingredients, FoodNavigator’s Positive Nutrition series kicks off with Healthy Snacking now available on demand, with GLP-1 disruption broadcast on February 5. Other broadcasts will cover functional dairy, performance petfood, the fibre renaissance and foods for longevity. Register here to attend for free.
