LONDON START-UP SELECTED AS A FOOD TECH ‘GAME CHANGER’ IN SILICON VALLEY

Following on from being selected as a ‘Trailblazer brand’ by Food Vision and Unilever Foundry, Wheyhey has now been chosen as the only UK brand to take part in THRIVE – an eight-week Food technology accelerator program based in Silicon Valley backed by SVG Partners, Forbes Magazine and Verizon alongside some of the largest food companies in the United States.

Hundreds of start-ups from 35 countries around the world applied to take part in Thrive, which was set up to find innovative solutions to health and food in the face of explosive growth in global populations.

Damien Kennedy, Co-founder of Wheyhey commented: “We are delighted to be part of the THRIVE ecosystem. We have developed a truly innovative and unique proposition. Our goal with Wheyhey is to tackle some of the world’s major health and nutrition problems head on, and to change what it means to eat healthily”

Co-founder Greg Duggan added “Our ice cream is a great tasting indulgent and truly healthy alternative to anything else on the market. It is incredible to be recognized by one of the leading Food and Agtech programs at the heart of Silicon Valley and by some of the biggest food companies in the world”

“Leveraging the technology expertise in Silicon Valley and the agriculture expertise in Salinas, Thrive is an ecosystem that is bringing together a global network of innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, as well as technology and companies” John Hartnett, CEO of SVG Partners.

These entrepreneurs are bringing some incredible energy and disruptive innovation to one of the world’s most important industries, and have been drawn together by the opportunity that arises from a huge challenge; feeding the world” Hartnett said.

According to a recent UN report, food production will need to increase by 70% to feed the world’s 9.6 billion people by 2050.

Established in 2013, the Wheyhey brand currently offers a range of indulgent, high protein, sugar free ice creams, designed to provide a truly healthy snacking alternative.

Wheyhey is currently stocked in a number of major retailers across the UK and Europe such as Holland & Barrett, Wholefoods, Odeon Cinema’s GNC, Ocado and Muscle Food as well as the UK’s leading health clubs. The brand also supplies the UK’s largest Food Service providers. From Spring 2016 Wheyhey will be available from Grocery retailers in the UK

Takeaways:

• Wheyhey selected as a ‘Trailblazer brand’ by Food Vision and Unilever Foundry. It is the only UK brand to take part in THRIVE
• Wheyhey will also be competing for up to $5m in venture capital funding
• In the contest to be selected onto the THRIVE program, Wheyhey beat hundreds of competitors from over 35 countries around the world.
• THRIVE’s ambition is find innovative solutions to health and food in the face of explosive growth in global populations