Carozzi Opens Chilean Plants to Cocoa-Free and AI Formulation Startups

Chilean food manufacturer Carozzi has selected four startups to run pilot projects in its production facilities, chosen from 183 applications across 26 countries. Among the startups is Copenhagen's Endless Food Co, which will be testing its cocoa-free ingredient with a Latin American manufacturer for the first time. The selected startups will collaborate with Carozzi's technical teams to validate their technologies in a live plant setting, with the company assessing operational impact and scalability before deciding on wider adoption.

Endless Food Co, Proxy Foods, Sensesbit, and BioBlends were chosen through Carozzi's open innovation program, Carozzi Sinergia Startup, which the company runs with Spanish agrifoodtech accelerator Eatable Adventures. The startups range from cocoa alternatives to software for formulation and tasting panels, all aimed at addressing challenges such as faster formulation, consumer data insights, regulatory demands, and adding value to waste streams under circular economy principles. José Manuel Muñoz, Carozzi's Innovation and Digital Transformation Manager, emphasized the importance of working with startups developing disruptive solutions to address industry challenges in the rapidly transforming food sector.