The startup produces high-quality food ingredients by upcycling stone fruit pits, specifically from cherries, apricots, and plums, into sustainable raw materials for the dairy alternatives and confectionery industries. This process provides clients with environmentally friendly options while reducing food waste in the supply chain.
Funding
$13.7M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
TIFounders
Product
Problem
The fruit processing industry generates significant waste in the form of stone fruit pits, which often go unused despite containing valuable nutrients and oils. Disposing of these pits contributes to environmental problems and represents a missed opportunity to create value-added products.
Solution
Kern Tec upcycles stone fruit pits, including those from apricots, cherries, and plums, into sustainable ingredients for the food and cosmetics industries. By transforming these byproducts into valuable raw materials, Kern Tec offers a sustainable alternative to traditional ingredients, reducing waste and minimizing environmental impact. Their upcycled ingredients can be used in a variety of applications, including dairy alternatives, confectionery, snacks, and cosmetic oils. Kern Tec's process allows them to create products with a unique taste, texture, and nutritional profile, while also helping their B2B customers achieve their sustainability development goals (SDG).
Target Audience
Kern Tec's primary customers are B2B manufacturers in the food and cosmetics industries seeking sustainable and innovative ingredients for their products.
Features
- Upcycled stone fruit kernels sourced from apricots, cherries, and plums.
- Production of various ingredients including seed pastes, oils, granulated seeds, whole seeds and shell granulates.
- Ingredients suitable for food applications such as plant-based milk alternatives, confectionery, and snack products.
- Ingredients suitable for cosmetic applications such as cosmetic oils and peeling products.
- Sustainable sourcing and production process minimizes CO2 emissions, water consumption, and land usage compared to traditional nut production.
- High content of unsaturated fatty acids, proteins, and minerals in apricot seeds.
- Cherry seeds contain high proportions of tocopherol, promising healing and antioxidative effects.
- Plum seeds offer a high-quality fatty acid profile, providing cold-pressed oils with long shelf life.