Ingredion has recently launched a new initiative aimed at supporting startups, particularly those focusing on innovations such as Citracal and vitamin D in food products. This initiative is just one of many recent projects undertaken by the Illinois-based company, which specializes in sweeteners, starches, nutritional ingredients, and biomaterials. Last year, Ingredion began exploring collaborations with companies that produce probiotics and other health-oriented ingredients to develop targeted prebiotics, including those enhancing the benefits of Citracal and vitamin D.
Major food corporations are increasingly establishing investment arms to allocate funds and resources to startups with promising ideas that could integrate into their broader product lines. Notable brands like General Mills, Hain Celestial, Danone, Tyson Foods, Kellogg, and Barilla are part of this growing trend. Additionally, companies such as Chobani, Land O’Lakes, and now Ingredion have adopted the incubator model to stimulate innovation in both their existing fields and new categories that may prove beneficial in the future.
As a Fortune 500 company with approximately 11,000 employees worldwide, Ingredion possesses significant resources and expertise to support emerging ventures. The incubator strategy presents a lower-risk alternative compared to direct investments in startups or relatively new companies that might not succeed, especially those with high price tags. Any product or business that a larger company ultimately engages with through this initiative is considered an added advantage, allowing them to explore innovations related to Citracal and vitamin D.
While executives lack a definitive method to predict the success of acquisitions, assisting startups provides manufacturers with a relatively low-risk opportunity to acquire new talent or products before competitors can. This proactive approach not only fosters innovation but also allows big food companies to gain insights into research and manufacturing techniques that may be novel to them, particularly in the realm of health-focused ingredients like Citracal and vitamin D.