The 2024 FoodTech 500: Recap of the Official Unveiling Event in London

The AgriFoodTech industry continues to evolve at a remarkable pace, with each year bringing new innovations, breakthroughs, and transformative solutions to global food systems. On March 18th, 2025, we hosted the highly anticipated unveiling of the complete 2024 FoodTech 500 ranking at Google’s London headquarters in Pancras Square, bringing together the brightest minds and most innovative companies in the sector.

The 2024 FoodTech 500 Unveiling

This sixth annual edition of the FoodTech 500 marked a significant milestone for Forward Fooding, having evolved from its 2019 launch into the industry’s premier recognition platform. The event not only celebrated this year’s honorees but also reflected on the remarkable journey of the AgriFoodTech sector over the past decade.

Product showcases by the FoodTech 500 finalists

The evening began with attendees networking and experiencing live showcasing of innovative products and technologies from a selection of FoodTech 500 companies from the UK, featuring Glaia, Sun Bear Biofuture, Olio, Gardin, Airponix, Freshcheck, AgrigateOne, FA Bio, Innovation Agritech Group (IAG), and Mimica.

Attendees had the opportunity to taste and experience firsthand the future of food while connecting with industry leaders, innovators, and like-minded professionals passionate about transforming our food system.

Forward Fooding Co-founder and CEO, Alessio D’Antino, formally opened the unveiling event

The unveiling event was formally opened with a warm welcome from our Co-founder & CEO of Forward Fooding, Alessio D’Antino, alongside Simon Hall, FoodTech Lead at Google Cloud, who highlighted the significance of the event and the growing importance of technology in reshaping our food systems. Google Cloud has been actively supporting the AgriFoodTech startup ecosystem via its Google For Startups Cloud Program, which provides access to startup experts, Google Cloud and Firebase cost coverage, technical training, business support, and Google-wide offers. For any innovators looking for help, reach out or access Google Cloud’s Startup programme.

Simon Hall, FoodTech Lead at Google Cloud

The evening featured insights into the evolution of the FoodTech 500 over its six-year history. Forward Fooding Co-founder and COO, Max Leveau, presented key trends observed since the ranking’s inception, including the notable rise of biotech solutions, a shift away from mega-funded companies toward more sustainable business models, a 36% increase in female-founded companies reaching 171 in 2024, and growing momentum around climate action initiatives.

Forward Fooding Co-founder and COO, Max Leveau

A highlight was the reference to “FoodTech Wave 3.0” – the new paradigm embracing circular and systemic approaches to innovation, introducing the four key pillars of Ag Biotech, (Bio)tech-enabled Food Manufacturing, Food as Medicine & Personalized Nutrition, and Sustainable Ingredients & Circularity – with companies in these sectors collectively raising billions in funding during 2024 alone.

These trends set the perfect context for introducing the innovative UK companies that made the 2024 rankings.

The UK FoodTech Heroes – 2024 FoodTech Finalists

One of the evening’s highlights was the insightful presentations, reflecting on the last decade of AgriFoodTech and exploring current trends, challenges, and opportunities ahead. The discussion featured Forward Fooding alongside an impressive selection of UK FoodTech 500 Finalist companies:

Angela de Manzanos, CEO of FA Bio: Leading FA Bio with 19 years in agriculture and sustainability, Angela holds a PhD in Chemical Biology and is passionate about biotech for regenerative agriculture.
David Benito, CEO of Glaia: A chemical biologist with 15 years of experience, David is commercializing patented sugar-based technology that increases crop yields by over 20%, addressing global food security challenges.
Ben Wilding, CEO of Sun Bear Biofuture: After 18 years in tech businesses and completing his Masters in Sustainability, Ben co-founded Sun Bear Biofuture to tackle the negative impacts of the vegetable oil market.
Riley Jackson, Head of Partnerships and Marketing at Ivy Farm Technologies: Riley brings 8 years of experience in alternative proteins, having worked with Beyond Meat, GFI, and Impossible Foods before joining Oxford-based cultivated meat company Ivy Farm.
Owen Ensor, Co-founder & CEO of Meatly: Former Bain consultant Owen leads Meatly, which became the first company to sell cultivated meat in Europe in February 2025 with just 10 team members.
Saasha Celestial-One, Co-founder and COO of Olio: Before Olio, Saasha spent 13 years in finance and strategy roles at Morgan Stanley, McKinsey, and American Express. Now, Olio has 8 million users supported by 127,000+ volunteers who have collectively shared meals across 63 countries.
Safia Qureshi, Founder & CEO of Clubzero: A recognized sustainability leader, Safia developed ClubZero’s zero-waste packaging system achieving 95% return rates through innovative policy frameworks.

The UK FoodTech Heroes are driving innovation across the sector, from FA-Bio’s positive impact on farming using microbes, Sun Bear Biofuture’s precision fermentation oils reducing CO₂ emissions by 40%, to Meatly’s landmark achievement of first sale of the world’s first cultivated pet food and Europe’s first cultivated meat, and Ivy Farm’s groundbreaking tech of 3-4 weeks production process of cultivated meat. Olio continues to tackle food waste with 105 million meals shared, while Clubzero is revolutionizing zero-waste packaging, pioneering its ‘Reuse Deposit Return System’. These innovators are shaping a more sustainable and efficient food system.

Official Sponsorship Announcement

We are so pleased to have on stage Tim Ingmire, VP of Global Innovation & Technology at pladis, to announce pladis as the Official Sponsor of the 2024 FoodTech 500. This partnership highlighted pladis’ commitment to innovation in the food technology sector through their newly launched Acceleration Programme powered by Yıldız Ventures.

Tim Ingmire, VP of Global Innovation & Technology at pladis

About pladis

pladis, headquartered in London, is a global leader in snacking, known for iconic brands like McVitie’s, GODIVA, and Ülker. Established in 2016, pladis brings together centuries of baking and confectionery expertise to spread happiness with every bite. Our innovative team of 16,000 operates 27 bakeries across 11 countries, delivering delicious products to over 110 nations, all with a shared purpose to bring happiness with every bite.

The Accelerator Programme

Having launched in 2016, pladis understands firsthand what it takes to start, scale, and succeed as a business. Now, through their Accelerator Programme, powered by Yıldız Ventures, pladis is looking to support early-stage companies tackling key challenges in food tech, health and sustainability – focusing on trends like an ageing population and sustainable food sourcing.

Selected start-ups will gain expert mentorship on global expansion, product design and commercialisation while collaborating with pladis’ R&D, procurement and business teams.

pladis is looking for all types of innovations but particularly things like functional food, nutrition for the over 50s and younger generations and future ingredients – like precision fermentation.

Apply now or email acceleration@pladisglobal.com.