Food Innovation Slam

Moderation: Markus Schmid, Institute Director, Sustainabale Packaging Institute SPI, Albstadt-Sigmaringen University

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13:35 - 13:50: Energy Nuts: Rethinking Energy Boosting and Creating a New Category
Sebastian Wirth, Co-Founder, snagger GmbH

Energy drinks deliver quick energy spikes, followed by equally quick crashes. We asked a simple question: What if an energy boost could be smoother, longer-lasting, and integrated into a natural food matrix?This idea led to Energy Nuts – the world’s first peanut snack enriched with caffeine and taurine, designed to create a completely new category of functional snacking. The lecture explains, in an accessible and entertaining way, how nutrition physiology provides the scientific foundation for this innovation. The fat and protein structure of roasted peanuts can influence the absorption of caffeine, contributing to a more gradual uptake compared to traditional liquid energy drinks. Taurine is widely used in energy formulations and forms part of the familiar profile of modern energizing products. We also explore insights from consumer behavior research: gamers, office workers, and students prefer small, clean snacks that fit seamlessly into their routines and don’t interrupt their workflow. As a side example, we highlight the SNAGGER snack dispenser, which demonstrates how real-world behavior can inspire product design. Finally, we discuss the sustainability perspective of energy in solid form: reduced transport weight, efficient shelf-life, and a more resource-friendly alternative to bottled energy drinks. The talk invites the audience to rethink what an “energy boost” can be – combining science, behavior insights, and a bit of humor to show how functional food innovation can open entirely new categories in the snack industry.

FRENVI Purpose Bakery: Making Innovative Edible Products the New Mainstream                                                                                                      Stefan Beyerle, Chief Operating Officer, FRENVI GmbH

What if the most sustainable packaging solution was dessert?

At FRENVI, we are making innovative edible products the new mainstream by inviting you to rethink waste, packaging, and bakery products from an entirely new angle.

Welcome to our German PURPOSE BAKERY in Walldorf-Wiesloch – not a traditional bakery, but a future-oriented upcycling lab where food innovation, material science and purpose meet. Opening in early 2026 in Germany, we will continue to offer three edible solutions:

   ·        EATlery© –made from 100% natural ingredients our edible cutlery that stays stable for 30–40 minutes, tastes neutral during the meal and becomes a crunchy cookie            afterwards.

    ·        The Cookie Cup – a leak-proof, edible coffee cup that replaces billions of paper and plastic cups and turns takeaway coffee into a zero-waste experience.

    ·        CrackerPlus – tasty, high-fiber crackers made with up to 20% upcycled barley fiber (brewers’ spent grain), rescuing valuable nutrients from the food and beverage              industry.

With real use cases from festivals, stadiums, cafés, caterers and retail, we show why edible tableware can outperform plastic and even reusables – economically, operationally and environmentally.

Expect concrete B2B insights, surprising numbers, and a lighthearted look on sustainability. 

Because the future of sustainable food packaging might just be delicious.

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