Our food system is broken, as food has to travel vast distances, changing hands numerous times before reaching our plates. This wastes precious resources and leads to inconsistent quality and inflated prices.
But what if there was a way to source food more efficiently and sustainably?
Enter a new startup working to bridge the gap between buyers and producers, creating a win-win for both businesses and the environment. Read on to discover their innovative approach to revolutionizing the food procurement industry.
Elevate Foods is a young startup tackling a significant challenge in the global food industry: the inefficient and unsustainable procurement of processed food ingredients.
Their mission is two-pronged:
- Empowering Buyers: Provide a reliable solution for sourcing high-quality, sustainable, and cost-effective processed food ingredients.
- Uplifting Farm-Gate Processors: Elevate their processing capabilities and provide access to global markets, boosting their income and promoting more farm-gate food processing reducing food waste.
The Problem: Food Loss and a Broken Supply Chain
Food loss is a significant global crisis. A staggering amount of food – over 4.5 Gt Co2e worth – is lost before reaching consumers, resulting in substantial economic and environmental consequences.
This loss often stems from long and inefficient supply chains with multiple intermediaries. Each handoff increases the risk of spoilage and reduces the quality of the final product.
Elevate Foods tackles this problem by promoting food processing closer to the source, at the farm gate itself. This reduces spoilage and ensures fresher, higher-quality ingredients for buyers.
Challenges Faced by All Stakeholders
The current food procurement system presents problems for everyone involved:
Buyers struggle to verify the quality of the ingredients they purchase. Multiple intermediaries involved in the supply chain can make it difficult to ensure that the ingredients meet their quality standards. This lack of transparency can also lead to inflated prices. Additionally, consumers are increasingly demanding sustainable and responsible food products, which puts pressure on buyers to find reliable suppliers who can meet these criteria.
Farm-Gate Processors face a different set of challenges. Their limited access to markets, particularly international ones, means they often struggle to find buyers for their produce. Inconsistent quality control can lead to unmarketable products. A lack of financing and knowledge about appropriate processing methods further hinders their ability to improve. These limitations result in underutilized capacity and financial struggles.
Elevate Foods: A Win-Win Solution for a Sustainable Future
Elevate Foods acts as a bridge between buyers and farm-gate processors, creating a more efficient and sustainable food system.
Their platform connects discerning buyers with a network of trusted processors, ensuring quality and traceability through rigorous quality management protocols.
They don’t just connect buyers and sellers; they actively support processors by:
- Improving Quality Management: Elevate Foods provides training and resources to help processors implement best practices to produce high-quality products that consistently meet international standards. This empowers processors to enter new markets confidently.
- Market Access: Elevate Foods doesn’t just connect processors to local buyers. It leverages its network and expertise to provide access to global markets, particularly in high-growth regions like Asia Pacific and the Gulf Countries. This opens up new revenue streams for processors and allows them to scale their operations.
The Elevate Foods Team
The company is led by Gayatri Bhatia, who profoundly understands the food processing industry. Having built and successfully sold her pan-India fresh dips and sauces brand, Saucery, Gayatri brings a wealth of practical experience to the table.
The Elevate Foods team also includes experts in quality management, technology implementation in food processing units, and international logistics. The company is actively expanding its team to support its growth trajectory.
“At Elevate Foods, we recognize the urgent need to address the challenges faced by farm-gate food processors,” said Gayatri Bhatia, Founder and CEO of Elevate Foods, GBN Food Solutions.
A Journey Driven by Purpose
The idea for Elevate Foods stemmed from Gayatri’s experience in the food industry and her desire to address the issue of food loss. Witnessing food wastage firsthand while operating her own factory, she was determined to find a solution.
Partnering with Wavemaker Impact, a climate-focused VC firm in Singapore, they conducted extensive research to develop a solution that balances profit with positive environmental impact.
Early Traction and Future Plans
Launched in February 2024, Elevate Foods has already secured a pre-seed funding round of USD 525,000 and a contract with a supermarket chain in Singapore.
This early validation demonstrates the demand for their innovative approach. Their vision is to empower farm-gate processors in India by providing them with the tools and resources they need to thrive. With continued growth, they plan to launch additional products and services to further support these vital players in the food supply chain.
This could include financing options, technical assistance for upgrading processing facilities, and educational programs on sustainable farming practices.
By bridging the gap between buyers and processors, Elevate Foods is promoting a more sustainable and efficient food procurement system.
This benefits businesses by reducing costs, improving quality, and opening up new market opportunities. More importantly, it benefits the environment by reducing food waste and promoting responsible sourcing practices. Elevate Foods is a promising young startup with the potential to revolutionize the food industry and create a more sustainable future for all.
“Through Elevate Foods, we are dedicated to empowering these processors with standardized processes, advanced technologies, and improved market access, thereby minimizing food losses and maximizing the value of their produce.”
