The FIC 2022 FOOD AWARD goes to Vanozza
On October 4, the final of the startup competition FIC 2022 FOOD AWARD took place at foodlab. in Hamburg's HafenCity. And the prize remains in the Hanseatic city: Vanozza won with a vegan alternative to mozzarella. The product is already successful in the catering trade, and the next step is to sell it through food retailers.
Over 130 applications, three finalists
Over 130 young food companies originally applied for the FIC 2022 FOOD AWARD, organized by Hamburg Startups. Fifteen of them were shortlisted, and three ultimately made it to the finals, where they pitched to a jury of experts at an exclusive dinner. Among them were 16-year-old Paul Belthle, Germany's youngest oil miller with his startup Die Ölfreunde, and Onshii by Udo Konstantin Uhlig and Karsten Seyfert. The two founders from Hamburg want to bring Thailand's culinary delights to German kitchens.
Vanozza convinced with vegan cheese alternative
The winner was Vanozza, a startup that is also based in Hamburg. The two founders, Nico Hansen and Patrick Oliveira Alpoim, come from a background in gastronomy. When they were looking for plant-based alternatives to conventional cheese and couldn't quite find what they were looking for, they set about developing the product themselves. In the first step, they took their cue from Italian buffalo mozzarella and used cashews and coconut fat as basic ingredients. The aim was to get as close as possible to the original in terms of taste, consistency and melting ability.
With success, Vanozza now supplies around 80 restaurants. The next product on the way is an alternative to Parmesan cheese. Another goal is to bring Vanozza to food retailers as well. A contract manufacturer who can produce the necessary quantities has already been found. Winning at FIC 2022 FOOD AWARD will provide additional momentum. The prizes include not only a partial listing with catering wholesaler CHEFS CULINAR and a media package from Jahreszeiten Verlag, but also a listing in REWE Nord stores.
