Ganeden’s Innovation Jumpstart program, which encouraged the development of new probiotic food and beverage ideas, has received submissions for three months.
After deliberation, the company has selected the following three finalists:
· Avoke Spoonables: a line of vegan, avocado-based smoothie bowls.
Each Spoonable comes packaged and ready-to-eat in an avocado-shaped stackable cup containing two servings of fruits and vegetables, one billion Colony-forming units of probiotics and toasted quinoa topping.
The concept, entered by Daniel Karsevar, would be the first avocado, probiotic smoothie and serves as a tasty and healthy alternative to yogurt or plant-based beverages.
· Red Lotus Foods: a Cleveland-based company offering a creamy spread made from cultured cashews with roasted garlic and herbs from entrant, Jeanne Petrus-Rivera.
The artisan spreads and toppings are dairy-free and make a unique variation to traditional spreads.
· simplyFuel: non-genetically modified organism, protein energy balls made from scratch by Mitzi Dulan, a registered dietitian and the team sports nutritionist for the World Champion Kansas City Royals.
The balls are packed with delicious ingredients and are a fun snack option that satisfies outside of protein bars.
They have been taste-tested and approved by several high-profile professional athletes, active adults as well as young athletes and children.
On July 16, up to two representatives from each company will fly to Chicago to present their product concept before a panel of industry experts from manufacturing, marketing, entrepreneurial and retail backgrounds.
These judges will select one idea for a partnership that will make probiotic history.
The grand-prize winner will receive US$25,000 in support to utilize GanedenBC30 probiotics in the product, as well as the guidance, assistance and expertise needed to help develop and launch their innovation into the functional food industry.
The winning concept will join the more than 500 probiotic product stock keeping units that have been brought to market with GanedenBC30 probiotics.
These products reportedly exceeded more than US$1 billion in retail sales in 2015.
The winner will be announced in ingredients show IFT 16 in Chicago, US, on July 17.
