German AI FoodTech Startup Foodforecast Raises €8M Funding In Series A Round

The round was co-led by SHIFT Invest and ECBF, with participation from existing investors Future Food Fund and Aeronaut Invest.

Founded in 2018 by Lauten and Jan Brormann, Foodforecast is on a mission to make the food industry more efficient and sustainable through AI.

Across Europe, approximately 30,000 tons of fresh food are wasted daily due to inaccurate demand planning in retail and food service. Ultra-fresh products, with shelf lives of just hours to a day, require a new approach to forecasting.

Foodforecast addresses this challenge with AI-based demand and production forecasting enabling food businesses to reduce waste, improve availability and optimize operations in time-sensitive categories.

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Its technology integrates seamlessly into existing workflows allowing teams to cut waste without added operational complexity. Automated production and ordering processes reportedly reduce food waste by up to 30% and increase sales by up to 11%, while automating more than 90% of previously manual processes.

Commercially launched in 2022, Foodforecast is now used in several thousand stores across Europe, including food service, bakery, and retail operators such as SSP Germany and Eat Happy.

Sustainability is a core focus of the business. By improving forecast accuracy, Foodforecast helps customers use resources more efficiently, reduce emissions, and cut food waste. To date, its clients have collectively prevented more than 8,800 tons of wasted food.

“This Series A represents a major milestone for Foodforecast. Our ambition is to fundamentally rethink how ultra-fresh food is planned and produced. With our new investors on board, we are ready to scale our technology internationally and set a new benchmark for planning, efficiency, and sustainability,” said Justus Lauten, Founder and CEO, Foodforecast.

The initiative is backed by the European Union through the InvestEU Fund. In 2024, Foodforecast secured over €3 million in funding led by Scalehouse Capital and Future Food Fund II.

The new capital will support the company’s expansion across European markets and drive broader adoption among SMEs and enterprise clients in food service, bakery chains, and retail.

“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,” said Isabelle Laurencin, Partner at ECBF.

About Foodforecast

Foodforecast uses AI to make the food industry more efficient and sustainable. Its technology provides precise demand forecasts for bakeries, food service, and retail, reducing waste while automating and optimizing operations. By improving ordering and production accuracy, Foodforecast helps businesses save time, cut food waste, and enhance overall efficiency.