Developing innovative FoodTech solutions - that is the aim of the partner agreement between the Foundation StartLife Holding and METRO GROUP. Within the period of the next three years until 1st of March 2020 StartLife and METRO GROUP will cooperate on supporting startups.

The Foundation StartLife Holding including StartHub Wageningen has signed a new partner agreement with METRO GROUP Wholesale and Food Specialist in order to develop innovative FoodTech solutions. StartLife helps new entrepreneurs in the Food and Agri sector create opportunities and work in this sector and enables them to contribute to the development and application of sustainable technological innovations. Wageningen University & Research is one of StartLife's partners.

'Food wholesale and retail companies have been selling their food products in the same way for thirty years or more, but this is about to change', explains Jan Meiling, Managing Director of StartLife.'Companies try to anticipate this change, but to do so they need insight into new technology and new, often shorter, logistics lines. The newly signed cooperation enables access to the disruptive innovations our startups are working on, from new food products to new ways of delivering or presenting products', Meiling explains on the importance of this partnership for both parties.

According to Fabio Ziemssen, Head of Food Innovation at HoReCa.digital, a subsidiary of METRO dealing with digitalization of HoReCa sector and innovation, the agreement benefits both parties. 'It gives start-ups linked to StartLife access to the stores of wholesale and retail sales lines of METRO GROUP, providing them with the opportunity to test their products in a real environment. Whilst our professional customers will gain new business ideas and opportunities through enlarged and innovative assortment'.

With this collaboration, METRO is also officially partnering with F&A Next, the match & deal-making event for Food & Agri startups held at the Wageningen Campus every May. From the METRO side the cooperation will be executed by the team of HoReCa.digital, as FoodTech innovation is one of the major areas of work of the newly created subsidiary.

Metro AG published this content on 07 March 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 07 March 2017 17:07:09 UTC.

Original documenthttps://www.metrogroup.de/en/company/inside-metro/2017/03/07/strengthen-the-future-of-food

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