The parent company of Godiva and McVitie’s, Pladis, has opened applications for the second year of its Global Accelerator Programme.

Pladis is looking for technologies that could improve nutrition or make snacks more sustainable without affecting the taste.

According to the business, this criterion includes new approaches to reformulation, such as natural alternatives to artificial additives and fermentation.

As part of the scheme, 12 challenger brands will have the chance to work with specialists across Pladis and have access to technical and operational expertise within their businesses.

The application period runs from 3 November and closes on 15 January 2025, with the selected start-ups announced in early March.

Last year the company received 300 applications from five continents, and 12 start-ups were chosen as finalists of the scheme.

The programme created six collaborations which showed how upcoming food technologies can be explored within a global food business.

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Some of the chosen start-ups include Zya’s Convero enzyme, which can change up to 30 per cent of sugar into fibre after consumption without changing taste.

Additionally, Dubin-based Nuritas utilised artificial intelligence and genomics to identify bioactive plant peptides for potential use in functional food ingredients.

This move comes as food manufacturers are seeking ways to adjust to the changing eating habits amid the rise of weight-loss drugs and more health-cautious consumption.

Tim Ingmire, VP of global innovation and technology at Pladis, said: “The pressures on food are increasing. The pleasure people expect from it is not. A breakthrough only matters if people want another bite.

“That’s the challenge we’re putting to the food-tech community: help us find new ways to improve nutrition and rethink ingredients while preserving the flavour and texture people love.”