German AI FoodTech startup Foodforecast raises €8 million to tackle ultra-fresh food wastage

German AI startup Foodforecast has secured €8 million in Series A funding to bolster its international expansion and enterprise development. This significant investment underscores the growing European focus on leveraging artificial intelligence to address critical industry challenges and foster digital sovereignty. The funding round was co-led by SHIFT Invest and ECBF, with participation from existing investors Future Food Fund and Aeronaut Invest. Foodforecast's AI-powered platform is designed to combat substantial food wastage within the ultra-fresh food supply chain, a sector plagued by inefficient demand and production forecasting. The company estimates that approximately 30,000 tons of fresh food are discarded daily across Europe due to inaccurate planning in retail and food service sectors. By integrating seamlessly into existing workflows, Foodforecast’s technology enables businesses to automate over 90% of manual ordering and production processes, leading to an average reduction in food waste by up to 30% and a potential sales increase of up to 11%. This investment is poised to accelerate Foodforecast's mission to create a more sustainable and efficient food industry across Europe. The company, already active in several thousand stores with clients like SSP Germany and Eat Happy, plans to expand its reach to both small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and larger enterprise customers in the food service, bakery, and retail sectors. Their success highlights the increasing potential of European AI solutions to drive economic value while delivering measurable environmental impact, aligning with broader EU digital policy goals.