{"id":10707,"date":"2018-08-24T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-08-24T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/live-gordon-food-service.pantheonsite.io\/relish-works-gordon-food-service-and-1871-join-forces-to-launch-the-food-foundry-accelerator-program-for-startups\/"},"modified":"2022-12-13T16:42:31","modified_gmt":"2022-12-13T22:42:31","slug":"relish-works-gordon-food-service-and-1871-join-forces-to-launch-the-food-foundry-accelerator-program-for-startups","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gfs.com\/es-us\/ideas\/relish-works-gordon-food-service-and-1871-join-forces-to-launch-the-food-foundry-accelerator-program-for-startups\/","title":{"rendered":"Relish Works, Gordon Food Service, and 1871 Join Forces to Launch \u2018The Food Foundry\u2019 Accelerator Program for Startups"},"content":{"rendered":"

Relish Works and Gordon Food Service join 1871<\/a> today to announce The Food Foundry<\/a>, a 16-week accelerator program designed to support, connect, and propel innovative startups with solutions across the foodservice value chain (from farm to table). The program will support startups by providing access to key foodservice resources (e.g., supply chain, distribution, stores, etc.), professional expertise and guidance, and connections to an extensive network of restaurant operators and entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n

\u201cSupporting and accelerating new solutions to challenges and opportunities across the food industry is at the core of our mission,\u201d said Mack Tilling, President and Chief Innovation Officer at Relish Works, Inc. \u201cAs an innovation hub designed to lead change in the food industry, The Food Foundry is a cornerstone program for our organization. It\u2019s been deliberately designed to provide a ton of value for foodservice related startups, and we\u2019re extremely excited to be working with Gordon Food Service and 1871 to deliver these strategic advantages.\u201d<\/p>\n

Participating startups will receive mission-essential resources, hands-on mentorship, and technical guidance from all three organizations. Participants will also receive $100,000 of blended investment. Furthermore, each participant will gain access to 1871\u2019s full spectrum of resources including an expanded mentorship network of over 500 mentors, 1,000 annual events, and networking opportunities with 1871\u2019s vast community of startups, innovators, and corporate partners.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of potential in the food industry for innovation and disruption, and this accelerator program will help startups take advantage of those opportunities,\u201d said 1871 CEO Betsy Ziegler. \u201cBy partnering with Relish Works and Gordon Food Service, we\u2019re able to pair our expertise in helping startups scale with their proficiency in the food distribution industry; together, we\u2019ll provide startups with a first class curriculum that will advance their business and ensure that they\u2019re investor ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to 1871\u2019s offerings, participants will gain access to the full resources of Gordon Food Service\u2019s wholesale food distribution and stores business including facilities for testing solutions, customer networks, supplier relationships, and industry experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cLaunching this program is an exciting moment for our organization,\u201d said Rich Wolowski, North American President and CEO of Gordon Food Service. \u201cWe look forward to supporting entrepreneurs and startups who are leading the way in how the food industry will work differently and better in the future. By running the program from Relish Works, and partnering with 1871, startups will have unparalleled access to resources and support.\u201d<\/p>\n

Startups interested in participating in the program must meet the following eligibility requirements:<\/p>\n