Cologne-based AI foodtech company Foodforecast has raised €8 million in a Series A funding round to expand its artificial-intelligence-driven demand and production forecasting platform across European markets. The round was co-led by SHIFT Invest and the European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF), with participation from existing investors including Future Food Fund and Aeronaut Invest.
Founded in 2018 by Justus Lauten and Jan Brormann, Foodforecast develops software designed to help food retailers, bakeries, and food-service operators plan production, ordering, and replenishment for ultra-fresh food products with very short shelf lives. The company’s AI models generate demand forecasts that update multiple times per day and integrate into existing operational workflows, automating planning tasks that have traditionally been done manually. Users reportedly see reductions in food waste of up to 30%, increases in sales of up to 11%, and automation of more than 90% of prior manual planning processes.
Since its commercial launch in 2022, Foodforecast’s platform has been deployed in several thousand stores across Europe, helping customers prevent more than 8,800 tons of food waste and improve availability for time-sensitive categories such as baked goods, sandwiches, and ready-to-eat items. The company says its solutions aim to reduce both economic losses and environmental impacts stemming from inaccurate demand planning.
The newly secured capital will be used to accelerate Foodforecast’s international expansion, enhance its AI capabilities, and drive broader enterprise adoption across the food service, retail, and bakery sectors. The initiative is also supported by the European Union under the InvestEU Fund, reinforcing the alignment of the company’s mission with broader sustainability goals.
KEY QUOTES:
“Foodforecast stands out as a rare combination of ambition, market understanding, and execution. The team tackles a large, structural problem in ultra-fresh food supply chains with an AI solution that is both highly sophisticated and easy to implement. That balance makes Foodforecast exceptionally well positioned for scalable, international growth.”
Thijs Gitmans, Partner at SHIFT Invest
“Sustainability is not an add-on, but an integral part of the value proposition. Foodforecast clearly demonstrates how AI can generate both economic value and measurable impact.”
Isabelle Laurencin, Partner at ECBF
