Q&A with Tim Ingmire, Vice President, Global Innovation & Technology at pladis, 2025 Official FoodTech 500 Sponsor

Tim Ingmire is Vice President of Global Innovation & Technology at pladis, where he leads the company’s efforts in driving transformative change within the food tech, health and sustainability sectors. With a wealth of experience in scaling businesses and bringing innovative products to market, Tim is passionate about fostering innovation and supporting visionary start-ups.

Forward Fooding: Can you introduce pladis and its mission?

Tim: pladis is headquartered in London and is a big player in the snacking world. We’re known for brands like McVitie’s, GODIVA and Ülker. We actually came together in 2016, bringing with us a long history of baking and making great confectionery. Our team of around 16,000 people works across 27 bakeries in 11 different countries. We’re all about making delicious products that bring delicious products to over 110 countries, with a shared purpose of bringing happiness with every bite.

Forward Fooding: What are the main opportunities for pladis?

Tim: pladis has plenty of opportunities to create exciting new innovations that respond to the ever-changing needs of an increasingly diverse and demanding set of global consumers.  We need new technologies that minimise environmental impact, maximise nutritional benefits, and help us to navigate the continual macro-challenges facing our business.  This will help us to continue to offer delicious products that will be the first choice of consumers and accelerate our growth in a financially sustainable way.

Forward Fooding: Can you tell us more about the pladis Accelerator Programme?

Tim: As a fast-growing company, we know what it takes to scale, which is exactly why we’re excited about the pladis Accelerator Programme. It’s all about supporting early-stage startups, both in the UK and internationally, focusing on food tech, health and sustainability. With trends like an ageing population and the growing demand for sustainable food sourcing, we want to help these startups tackle some of the biggest challenges in the food industry. By sharing our expertise, we hope to give them the tools they need to scale their innovations and make a real impact.

Forward Fooding: What are you looking for in the companies that will take part in the program and what would be the ideal outcome for these companies and for pladis?

Tim: We’re on the lookout for startups pushing the boundaries in three key areas:

• Personalised nutrition – We’re interested in functional and fortified snacks that cater to both over 50s, supporting long-term health and younger generations, and providing essential nutrition for growth and development.
• Advancing functional foods – We’re looking for innovations like nutraceuticals, functional snacks and AI-driven products that support beauty, wellness and overall wellbeing.
• Future ingredients – Breakthroughs like precision fermentation, upcycled ingredients and plant-based products that offer sustainable and nutritious snacking options.

For these startups, their goal is to successfully commercialise their products, expand their reach and build meaningful collaborations that drive industry transformation. For us, it’s about integrating these cutting-edge ideas into our offerings to keep pushing innovation forward.

Apply to the pladis Accelerator Programme

Forward Fooding: What do you hope to see in the next 10 years in the field of AgriFoodTech innovation, for sustainability and beyond?

Tim: In the next decade, I’m really hopeful we’ll see some exciting advancements in areas like sustainable agriculture, alternative protein and precision farming. The key will be innovations that improve resource efficiency, promote regenerative farming and help optimise supply chains. These are all crucial to building a more resilient and climate-smart food system.

Forward Fooding: Why do you think it is important for the food industry to embrace technology?

Tim: Embracing technology is absolutely essential for the continual growth and development of the food sector. It’s a game-changer for improving food safety, sustainability and efficiency. With the right tech, we can reduce crop diseases, enhance food quality and cut down on waste—all of which are key to ensuring a reliable and safe food supply for the growing global population.

Forward Fooding: What made you decide to become a sponsor for this year’s FoodTech 500?

Tim: Sponsoring the FoodTech 500 really aligns with our commitment to innovation. It’s all about driving transformative change in food tech, health, and sustainability. The FoodTech 500 highlights some of the top AgriFoodTech companies out there, and we see it as a great platform for fostering collaboration and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the industry.

Tim Ingmire presenting at the 2024 FoodTech 500 Unveiling event in London on 18 March 2025

Forward Fooding: How do you think the FoodTech 500 feeds into the vision of pladis?

Tim: The FoodTech 500 really aligns with our vision by shining a spotlight on companies that are driving sustainability, and innovation in the food industry. This partnership is a perfect fit for us, as it reflects our commitment to supporting visionary startups and helping build a brighter, more sustainable, nutritious and delicious future for food.

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