Food Foundry, a Relish Works accelerator program launched in partnership with Gordon Food Service and 1871 that is rethinking the way food moves, has announced the five innovative food startups that will join their third cohort.

There have been numerous large-scale shifts in the foodservice industry throughout the last year, as companies have had to navigate supply-chain disruptions, operational adjustments to place health and safety as a priority, and other changes. In response to the challenges of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the startups selected for the third cohort of Food Foundry are creating new solutions for a changing industry. The participating members are leading the way in supporting and accelerating two growing trends in how food moves and arrives at the table: digital adoption and ethical consumerism.

"As we find ourselves in the midst of a changed industry, we continue to place our customers at the center of everything we do,” said Rich Wolowski, President & CEO of Gordon Food Service. “We are inspired by the Food Foundry companies’ commitment to creating solutions that will help our industry recover and thrive once again."

The Food Foundry is proud to welcome the following startups as cohort three members:

• EZ Chow provides multi-channel digital ordering for restaurants and hospitality organizations.
• Feedback App is a low-cost food ordering platform that reduces food waste by facilitating the diversion of any excess.
• Forever Ware makes trash-free takeout and delivery a reality by stocking restaurants and grocery stores with smart, reusable takeout containers and cups that customers can borrow and return. 
• Sampoll provides innovative SaaS solutions for product trials and voice of customer insights.
• Tavolo is an app that introduces contactless dining by allowing users to reserve a table, order menu items, and pay for meals at restaurants they love while utilizing AI to analyze restaurant metrics to improve the customer experience.

Throughout the selection process, Food Foundry sought startups that are shaping a more resilient future by taking fresh approaches to today’s most pressing challenges. Each finalist demonstrated a product or service that offers an innovative solution with the potential to reimagine the food industry and create a stronger, more sustainable food ecosystem. 

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