The Venergy team has developed lemon and lime flavoured energy sweets which provide a vegan sustainable alternative to energy product. Each member of the gold-winning team took home a share of £2,000 and an invitation to become an IFST Young Ambassador.
Now in its seventh year, Ecotrophelia UK is a ‘Dragons Den’ style competition that challenges teams of UK students to develop an innovative, eco-friendly food and drink product. This competition gives students hands-on experience of what it is like to bring an eco-friendly food or drink product to market.
Alice Bryant, nutrition and food science student at Reading University said: "We are all delighted to have been chosen as the winners of Ecotrophelia UK! The competition was really tough, and it was an amazing experience. We cannot wait for the finals in October."
Venergy team will go on to compete against 16 other national teams from across Europe for the chance to win up to €6,000 at the Ecotrophelia European final, which will take place during ANUGA in Cologne, Germany on 6 and 7 October 2019.
The teams pitched their ideas to judges from top names in the food and drink industry including PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Warburtons, Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) and Campden BRI.
Andrew Gardner, operations director at IFST said: “Our Dragons tell us the quality of entries improves year on year, and this year is no exception.
“Team Venergy are rightful winners with a clear eco-innovative story for their vegan energy sweets. You will be seeing much more of them and the other finalists!”
Caruffle team from Nottingham Trent University secured the silver prize and £1,000 for their truffle made from carob and hazelnut with a mixed fruit jelly centre and rolled in popped and ground quinoa.
Bertrand Emond, head of membership and training at Campden BRI said: "It’s fantastic to see so many young people engage with this competition and put forward such innovative products.
“Over 350 students from 17 different universities across the UK have now taken part since 2013. The 2017’s winning team went on to win silver prize in the European final with their vegan sushi made from cauliflower rice and fresh vegetables; building on the bronze prize the previous year, so we have high hopes for the teams again this year in October at Anuga in Cologne, Germany.”
The UK heat of this Europe-wide competition was organised by UK food and drink research organisation, Campden BRI, in conjunction with the Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST), the independent qualifying body for food professionals in Europe.