Foodtel – A Digital Platform That Saves Food and the Planet
Each year, over half a billion tonnes of food is wasted unnecessarily – often due to broken cold chains. Jacob Petersson and Nazih Hazime set out to change that. With their digital platform Foodtel, they’re helping the food industry reduce waste, save money, and make more sustainable choices. Along the way, Krinova has been a key partner – from the early stages of business development to connecting them with the contacts that have enabled international expansion.
The term cold chain refers to the sensitive journey of, for example, a kilo of minced meat – from producer all the way to your shopping basket.
– If the chain is broken and the product doesn’t maintain the right temperature, it often has to be discarded – even when there’s nothing actually wrong with it, explains Jacob Petersson, co-founder of Helsingborg-based Foodtel and one of the companies in Krinova’s incubator programme.
It’s a global issue. According to UN estimates, broken cold chains lead to more than half a billion tonnes of food being thrown away each year – representing a loss of around £85 billion.
From Idea to Innovation
Foodtel’s innovation represents a small revolution – not least in terms of climate impact.
– Our digital platform is based on the latest research and is already being used by producers, transporters, retailers, and restaurants in Sweden, says Jacob.
Through a simple interface, users can determine whether a temperature deviation has had a negative impact on the food. In most cases, it hasn’t – or it may mean a slightly shorter shelf life, allowing the product to be used instead of thrown away.
Jacob and Nazih first met while studying business administration at Halmstad University. During a summer break, they ended up working in two different parts of the food industry’s cold chain – one in retail, the other in logistics.
– One day, we sat down and compared our experiences. We were both struck by the huge amount of food waste, Jacob recalls.
– We started looking at the bigger picture – the extra work, inefficiencies, complaints, and not least the environmental impact. We realised: there had to be a better way, adds Nazih.
Krinova’s Support – From Idea to International Scale-Up
– Krinova was our very first point of contact. We had defined the problem and believed we had a possible solution.
Their first meeting with Krinova was online. On screen appeared business designer Massimiliano “Max” Pattara – immediately positive and supportive.
– Max really believed in the idea and saw the potential. At the same time, he was upfront about the challenges – especially in a slow-moving sector dominated by big players, Jacob recalls.
Later, Max’s colleague Jens Almqvist joined the process. Since then, Krinova’s incubator has been an important sounding board – from business development to industry contacts. One key connection was to Vinnova, Sweden’s innovation agency, which provided early-stage funding.
– That enabled us to launch an R&D project in collaboration with RISE, Sweden’s independent research institute.
It was also Krinova that introduced Foodtel to Novax, the investment arm of the Axel Johnson Group. After a funding round in autumn 2024, the company brought in a long-term strategic partner – setting the stage for serious scale-up. International launch is now underway in Germany, with customers already in Lithuania.
The two founders are also proud of their growing team, including Ellinor, Lars, Danny, and Mouhammed – who bring both drive and expertise.
– We see our platform as a win-win-win for everyone in the food industry. It saves money, saves food, and reduces climate impact, concludes Nazih Hazime.
Foodtel’s impact over just two years:
- 420+ tonnes of food saved
- 120% average ROI per customer
- €3M in saved product value
- 3,000+ tonnes of CO₂e avoided
About Krinova
Foodtel is one of many examples of how Krinova supports innovative companies on their journey – from idea to expansion. Through business development, networks, and access to funding, Krinova helps entrepreneurs grow and create sustainable solutions for the future.
Want to learn more about how we can support you and your business? Read more about Krinova’s incubator programme here.
Foodtel founders Jacob Petersson and Nazih Hazime together with three of their new colleagues – Danny, Ellinor and Lars.