Tempty Foods has been named Foodtech Company of the Year 2026, recognised for combining innovation, sustainability and real market potential in its approach to alternative proteins.

The award was presented on 15 September at Foodtech Forum in Malmö, where foodtech companies, investors, industry representatives and public actors gathered to explore innovation and opportunities shaping the future of food.

For this year’s jury, Tempty Foods stood out for bringing together three qualities they believe are essential for the future of food: innovation, sustainability and real market potential.

Turning innovation into a real business

Tempty Foods has taken an innovative approach to alternative proteins, developing nutritious food with a significantly lower environmental footprint without compromising on taste.

But for the jury, what particularly distinguished the company was its ability to take the step from innovation to market.

Tempty Foods has demonstrated consumer demand, entered the market and shown clear potential to scale. For the jury, this combination of an innovative solution, sustainability ambitions and demonstrated market potential made Tempty Foods a strong example of the kind of company that can help shape the future food system.

– We believe this is a company with an exciting journey ahead, and one where this award can help make a real difference, says Sanna von Gertten, Agency Director at KIND and Chair of the Foodtech Company of the Year jury.

More than a trophy

Winning Foodtech Company of the Year comes with more than recognition on stage. The award is designed to provide the winning company with practical support that can contribute to its continued development.

As part of the 2026 award package, Tempty Foods will receive strategic support from AFRY and KIND, with expertise in business development, branding and communication.

The support will be shaped in dialogue with Tempty Foods, allowing the partners to focus on the areas where the company sees the greatest need and potential at this stage of its journey.

AFRY continued its engagement as sponsor and jury partner of the award, bringing expertise in business development and strategic development. KIND joined the award as a new partner and chair of the jury, contributing expertise within branding and communication.

Together, the two partners provide support corresponding to a combined value of SEK 100,000, making this the most extensive award package in the history of the Foodtech Company of the Year Award.

The support gives Tempty Foods access to expertise and perspectives that can help the company take its next steps, with the focus shaped around the company’s needs and development.

Recognising the companies shaping the future of food

Foodtech Company of the Year is presented annually at Foodtech Forum and is open to exhibiting member companies within Foodtech Innovation Network. The award recognises companies that demonstrate innovation, entrepreneurial drive and the potential to contribute to a more sustainable and resilient food system.

Previous winners include Diapure, awarded in 2024, and Dapibuset, which received the award in 2025.

This year, the jury evaluated the exhibiting companies based on criteria including innovation, sustainability impact, scalability, consumer value and transformational potential.

The 2026 jury consisted of:

• Sanna von Gertten, Agency Director at KIND and Chair of the jury
• Katrin Hedvall, Vice President and Head of Food Sweden at AFRY
• Bodil Sidén, General Partner at Kost Capital
• Daniel Skavén Ruben, Project Manager Invest Promotion AgriFood at Business Sweden
• Fanny Sturén, Strategic Project Manager at Berget Studios

Together, the jury brought perspectives from foodtech, investment, branding, business development and sustainable food systems to the evaluation.

Congratulations to Tempty Foods on being named Foodtech Company of the Year 2026, and on the exciting journey ahead.

The final group of exhibiting companies for Foodtech Forum 2026 is now being introduced, completing a lineup of 42 companies showcasing innovations from across the foodtech ecosystem.

From circular nutrient recovery and food safety technology to local food systems, functional beverages, next-generation convenience food and new approaches to baking, the final exhibitors reflect the range of ideas and solutions shaping the future of food.

Together, all 42 exhibiting companies demonstrate how innovation is happening across the entire food system – connecting technology, production, sustainability, health and new consumer experiences.

Thirteen exhibitors announced for Foodtech Forum 2026

Steribake

Steribake is transforming the future of baking with a patented flour sterilization technology that enables the production of safe, ready-to-use, ambient shelf-stable baking batters. By turning existing dairy co-packing lines into producers of innovative liquid batters, the company offers a scalable solution without the need for new factories.

Höganäs Chocolate

Höganäs Chocolate is rethinking chocolate production through a Farm to Bar approach, connecting cocoa cultivation in Ecuador with chocolate manufacturing in Höganäs, Sweden. By bringing more of the value chain together, the company aims to increase traceability, reduce unnecessary transportation and waste, and create more value locally.

DiaPure AB

DiaPure is turning phosphorus from a waste problem into a valuable resource for the future of food production. Its regenerable filter technology captures phosphorus from wastewater and agricultural and industrial water streams, allowing nutrients to be recovered and returned to the cycle.

Närvaror AB

Närvaror is making local and small-scale food easier to discover, choose and buy. Through its digital mapping platform, the company connects food producers, farm shops, retailers, wholesalers and consumers, helping strengthen local food systems and create new market opportunities for small-scale producers.

Leftovers

Leftovers is rethinking local food production by turning underutilised home kitchens into part of the food system. Its platform enables people to cook surplus portions and share or sell them directly to neighbours, creating a hyperlocal model that can reduce food waste and packaging.

Casca

Casca is giving new life to cascara, the coffee fruit that is usually discarded during coffee production. By transforming this underutilised side stream into a refreshing beverage, the company aims to reduce waste while creating additional value for coffee farmers.

Skånska Matfabriken / TEZA

TEZA is bringing traditional Middle Eastern comfort food into modern food production. Classic dishes such as sambosek, kubbe and falafel are produced in a newly established, fully automated factory in Malmö, combining traditional flavours with modern production and convenience.

LayerLogic

LayerLogic is transforming food safety testing by moving bacterial detection from centralized laboratories directly into food production environments. Its portable biosensor platform enables producers to detect bacteria such as Listeria within minutes, supporting faster decisions and more proactive food safety.

SUND Hydration

SUND Hydration is introducing Sweden’s first Electrolyte Soda – an all-natural, better-for-you alternative to traditional soft drinks. Combining refreshment with function, the company is developing a new approach to functional beverages for both B2C and B2B markets.

Fuli ApS

Fuli is reimagining Asian frozen food to make it fun, convenient and healthy. Starting with Chinese dumplings, the Copenhagen-based company is bringing bold flavours and quality ingredients to the freezer aisle and is now preparing to expand into Sweden.

Holisip AB

Holisip is creating a new generation of functional drinks for children. With no added sugar, added vitamins and fibre, and a child-friendly bottle designed to minimise spills, the company combines better beverage choices with a product designed specifically for kids.

Good Sodas

Good Sodas is rethinking soda through clean-label ingredients and LAB fermentation, using a natural biological process to create flavour, acidity and complexity while reducing sugar and reliance on conventional additives. Already present in eight export markets, the company has built an asset-light model designed for international growth.

Chogo

Chogo develops tasty, fully vegan chocolate bars that provide protein and practical nutrition for elderly people, patients and anyone who needs a simple nutritional boost. With production capacity of more than 20,000 packs per day and experience delivering over 60,000 vegan bars to Lidl Denmark in four months, Chogo is built to scale across healthcare, retail and everyday consumers.

42 companies. One shared vision for the future of food.

Foodtech Forum brings together startups, scaleups, industry leaders, buyers, investors, researchers and public-sector actors to explore the technologies, ideas and collaborations shaping the future food system.

With 42 exhibiting companies now confirmed, this year’s exhibition brings together innovations spanning everything from food production and circularity to health, convenience, safety and resilience.

Meet the exhibitors and experience their innovations live at Foodtech Forum in Malmö on September 15.

📅 September 15, 13:00–17:00
📍 Slagthuset, Malmö

➡️ Register for Foodtech Forum 2026: https://foodtech-forum-2026.confetti.events/