A new addition to the second FoodTech StartUp competition is the announcement of an extra winner this year due to the significant interest from small and regional innovators. The winner in the new retail category is Ruralina, a startup based in Split. Their digital solution facilitates seamless interaction among individuals, producers, and organizations, empowering small suppliers to grow through their platform.
The awards were bestowed by Tina Turk Lupieri, Director of Human Resources at Maistra Hospitality Group, and Daniel Štrum, a member of the Management Board for Procurement and Marketing at Kaufland. They, along with Nevena Rendeli Vejzović, Director of Prime Time Komunikacije, engaged in a discussion about the competition’s importance, achievements, and the notable surge in the number of registered startups.
“We’re immensely proud to be hosting the FoodTech StartUp Competition for the second year. We received applications from startups across Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, and Serbia. However, what’s truly remarkable is that we also had entries from Italy, India, South Korea, the United States, and even Haiti. Our influence extends far beyond our region; whenever we present something compelling, we achieve global recognition, which is truly fascinating. Moreover, this year presented a genuine challenge in selecting the winners due to the sheer number of impressive and innovative solutions,” explained Tina Lupieri.
This year’s domestic FoodTech StartUp competition commenced in May at one of Europe’s premier gourmet festivals – the Weekend Food Festival. The competition convenes startups across seven categories, including Agriculture Tech, Food Science, Food Product and Health Coaching, Food & Hospitality Services, Food Supply Chain & Retail, Food Delivery, and Food Waste. Inspired by global trends, the concept of the FoodTech Startup Competition aims to furnish a distinctive digital platform for emerging, promising players in the culinary realm to penetrate the global market.
After the awards ceremony, it was announced that the third edition of the Weekend Food Festival will take place from April 19th to 21st, 2024, in Rovinj. This charming town will once again become the hub for internationally renowned chefs, restaurateurs, and all food enthusiasts, offering sensational aromas and flavors.
More details about the FoodTech competition can be found here.
