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Pladis, a London-based company behind McVitie’s, Godiva and Ülker, has launched an accelerator programme aimed at nurturing early-stage companies in the foodtech, health and sustainability sectors within the UK and internationally.

The programme will assist start-ups in addressing key consumer trends such as the ageing global population and the growing demand for sustainable food sourcing.

Founded in 2016, Pladis will provide start-ups with mentorship from its senior team, offering guidance on global expansion, product design, branding and commercialisation.

Start-ups will have the opportunity to pilot projects or co-develop solutions with Pladis, gaining validation and market exposure. The aim is to discover innovative solutions that could transform the industry.

The programme is designed to assist start-ups focusing on three core areas: personalised nutrition for the over 50s and younger generations, advancing functional foods and developing future ingredients. Pladis aims to support innovations such as functional snacks, nutraceuticals, AI-driven product development and sustainable ingredients like plant-based and upcycled products.

Jennifer Moss, chief research and development officer at Pladis, said: "We are excited to launch the accelerator programme as part of our continued to driving transformative change within foodtech, health and sustainability".

"We are a young company ourselves and our leadership team has experience in scaling a global business and bringing to market innovative products. The people running this programme were the people who were integral in making our business what it is today. We want to share the insights we’ve learned to collaborate directly with visionary startups, powering the next era of breakthrough ideas.”

Through the programme, selected businesses will also gain access to key players in foodtech, retail tech and innovation, including industry leaders, corporate partners and venture professionals.