One of the companies is Snow Monkey, which makes dairy-free superfood ice cream.
Chobani has announced the second round of start-ups selected to take part in its Chobani Food Incubator – and there’s not a dairy brand among them.
The US yogurt manufacturer unveiled the programme last year as a means of encouraging start-ups and entrepreneurs who are “looking to challenge big food companies with natural and affordable foods”.
This year’s intake comprises companies that are disrupting, innovating and inspiring new food categories in the US, Chobani said.
They include a low-calorie beer alternative, a healthier frozen fruit pop, as well as fresh and sustainable versions of foods that have been around for centuries like oats, saffron and seafood.
And there’s even a plant-based ice cream brand – a bold choice from Chobani, which doesn’t make any dairy alternative products of its own.
Chobani CEO Hamdi Ulukaya said: “To select our next class [of incubator brands], we tasted hundreds of products and met with entrepreneurs across the country and the world. These seven companies each have something special and unique.
“In selecting this class, we looked at what categories—and what teams of people—have the ability to make big changes in American supermarkets and give more people better options. I can’t wait to have these companies at Chobani to see how we can help them on their journey and welcome them to our family.”
WATCH: See how they reacted to being told the good news by Hamdi Ulukaya (© Hamdi Ulukaya/Facebook)
Chobani said there were more than 550 applications for just seven spots this time round – a 20% increase from last year.
For this year’s intake, Chobani was searching for purpose-driven entrepreneurs whose business models are rooted in social good initiatives, who are passionate about making natural and creative food more accessible, and who are doing so in a sustainable way.
And, according to the New York-based business, the inspiration for the products comes from all around the world, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of their founders.
Chobani founder Ulukaya is originally from Turkey, of Kurdish descent, and moved to the US to study in 1994. He has previously donated to causes including Syrian refugees.
The second Chobani Food Incubator class will run from September to December, based at a dedicated space designed for the incubator scheme at Chobani’s sales and marketing offices in New York City.
In full: the seven incubator brands
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