FDBusiness.com

In what the company says is an effort to cultivate probiotic innovation in the functional food and beverage market, Ganeden has announced Probiotic Innovation Jumpstart – described as an industry-first entrepreneurial program designed to help companies launch new probiotic products.

The program from Ganeden is described as an opportunity that invites all scientists, entrepreneurs and inventors with a brand new probiotic food or beverage product concept to submit their idea to Ganeden. While entries will be accepted for all product categories, the company said it encourages submissions for novel products that will resonate with consumers and fill a specific need in the marketplace. The grand prize winner will receive $25,000 in support to utilise GanedenBC30 probiotics in the product, as well as the guidance, assistance and expertise needed to help develop and launch their innovation into the food and beverage industry.

“Ganeden’s growth and success has been accomplished by helping hundreds of forward-thinking companies around the world develop and market innovative, first-of-their-kind probiotic products,” said Andy Lefkowitz, Ganeden’s CEO. “The future of the food and beverage market is functional foods, and we see this program as a huge opportunity to share our expertise and support the industry by helping others bring their ideas to life and onto shelves.”

All initial concepts must be submitted on the Probiotic Innovation Jumpstart website by May 6, 2016. Three finalists will then be chosen to present their ideas in-person to a panel of judges during the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) show in Chicago on July 16, 2016. The presentations, to be done by two representatives from each company, will be judged by a panel of industry experts from both manufacturing and retail backgrounds. The panel includes Mark Retzloff, a pioneer in the organic and natural foods industry, and Caroline Beckman, co-founder and CEO at Nomva.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to help nurture our fantastic industry, and I am humbled to be a judge for Ganeden’s program,” said Mark Retzloff, senior partner for the Boulder Farm Team and chairman for multiple food and beverage boards. “I’ve personally watched products containing GanedenBC30 gain significant traction in the marketplace, and look forward to seeing the success that this program will bring.”