Development of an award winning pre commerical procurement programme: A Small Business Research Initiative to tackle obesity
 

Welsh Government commissioned Innovation Strategy to source funding and develop a Small Business Research Initiative to find innovative approaches to tackle the ongoing battle with obesity in children whist offering new market opportunities for innovative food and drink companies. Innovation Strategy formed a collaboration among Welsh Government Food and Drink Division, Health, Education, Procurement,  Welsh Local Government Association and Innovate UK and secured £1 million worth of funding from Innovate UK and Welsh Government. 

 

Innovation Strategy project managed the programme and supported early stage companies to successfully develop innovative products to offer new approaches to the obesity challenge in Wales. Solutions were developed in collaboration with project partners Pennotec and Bug Farm Foods. Innovations included Bug Farm Foods new insect and plant protein known as VEXo, a subsititute to minced meat offering a reduction of saturated fat by 70 - 80% and Pennotecs solution  apple pomace, a by-product of cider production to replace high calorie ingredients and enhance fibre in school food products. Following the feasibility and demonstrator stage of the programme both companies secured pilots to offer their new solutions to organisations such as schools and food manufacturing companies to ensure more nutritious food was available to children. 

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Innovation Strategy successful completed the programme on time and within budget whilst achieving the expected benefits. Through the success of the programme Innovation Strategy received the prestigious national Go Awards, Procurement Innovation of the Year and Go Excellence Award 2020. If your organisation has a challenge or your are interested in how innovative procurement can help with your public sector challenge we would like to hear from you.