SIGN UP

Vitalfootprint asks the ‘crowd’ to become a partner and invest in the future of safe meal assurance, and informed food choice for diners!

 Vitalfootprint asks the ‘crowd’ to become a partner and invest in the future of safe meal assurance, and informed food choice for diners!

Vitalfootprint Ltd, backed by CMR, has launched a crowdfunding campaign via the crowdfunding platform InvestingZone in a bid to raise £350K.

(https://www.investingzone.com/pitch/351/vitalfootprint-ltd)

Why is this important?

Because in the last 18 months 3 high profile cases have hit the headlines profiling restaurants (includes Jamie’s Italian) that have either been fined heavily or charged with manslaughter as a result of ill-informing diners about food allergens. Businesses face a significant challenge in meeting new legislative obligations mandating the provision of information to consumers, due to fragmentation in how information is currently transferred along the supply chain.

Furthermore failure to make this information accessible is losing potential business from 25million (1 in 3 of us) consumers in the UK who suffer from a food allergy or intolerance (Allergy UK statistic). This can make us feel unwell for days, and will most certainly ruin a meal out with friends, family or colleagues.

Not to talk of the people who have serious food allergies for whom death could be on the other side of a poorly labelled food item or dish, an ill-informed waiter/waitress, or a carefree chef/ manager who fails to update the menu to indicate a change in an ingredients' allergen status.

In 2016, legislation governing the display of nutrition information comes into effect. Close to 10% of us living in England are now at risk of developing Type-2 Diabetes. With more and more of us eating the majority of our meals out of home, this figure is set to increase.

There is mounting pressure from regulators, the government and special interest groups persuading the food service sector to play their part by making food information more accessible particularly around allergens and the nutritional value of the dishes being served. But this can be tricky for many, particular the smaller operators that might lack the dedicated resource to manage this on an ongoing basis.

Eating out is not meant to be harmful, painful or dangerous. Far from it, food is the subject of enjoyment, pleasure, celebration and community. It is central to everything we do.

So, the folks at Vitalfootprint are NOT the restaurant police, and they certainly are not advocating boycotting certain types of restaurants or eating out places. They are NOT healthy eating evangelists either. Far from it. These heavenly places were sent for us to enjoy them.

What they do stand for is supporting the eating out ecosystem to allow it to operate efficiently when it comes to food information. So that restaurants and eateries can easily support consumers in making their own informed choices, and consumers can dine out with confidence. The only way they can do this is with clear and accessible dish information.

The Campaign

The team at Vitalfootprint are boldly asking the industry to back this campaign, and to become a shareholder by investing in the future of safe meal assurance, informed food choices, and better customer service through SMART food information.

Jump on this bandwagon now to:

• Influence how your food information is handled and made public
• Shape and influence future government policies and laws relating to food labelling and information communication
• Be part of the pioneering driving force that recognises the value of ALL customers irrespective of their eating preferences.

We are asking food service businesses to back us with an investment, with levels starting at a modest £500.

Further details of the rewards at each level can be found the website.

By investing you become a shareholder in Vitalfootprint and not just a customer, which means you have more influence in the future of the product and service we deliver. You also get to benefit from a future healthy ROI.

In return for your generous pledge, you and your staff will be given full and unlimited access to the Vitalfootprint product suite that achieves three things for your kitchen, staff, and customers:

1. Improves compliance – with food labelling regulations

2. Enhances customer service – through clearer information & informed staff

3. Attracts new clients – through matching your dishes with customer profiles eagerly looking for restaurants who can cater for them

If you believe that the current‘trend’for transparency, informed choice and clearer food information is here to stay and you would like to play an active role in how this plays out rather than being on the receiving end all the time, then here is a great opportunity. Vitalfootprint is looking for true partners not just customers to share its vision and future success and to make the joy of eating out accessible to all.

Catapult secures 5.2x cash return after successful exit from Oxford Cryosystems through Management Buy-Out

Catapult Ventures is delighted to announce the successful exit from another of its investee companies.

Catapult invested in Oxford Cryosystems in September 2010 when it backed a management buy-out of the company from its previous corporate owners.   The business, which is a worldwide market leader in providing low temperature devices used in x-ray crystallography, has continued to develop and grow during the period of Catapult’s involvement.

The transaction has delivered an excellent return for the Catapult Growth Fund with a 5.2 times cash return.

Ed Wass, who led the transaction for Catapult Ventures, comments: “We are delighted that Oxford Cryosystems has been such a successful story.  Catapult backed the management team because we recognised that they had not only a range of world leading products but also the passion and ideas to develop the business further. We are very proud to have supported them through this period of the company’s development”.

Richard Glazer, Oxford Cryosystems CEO, comments: “Over the last five years Catapult Ventures have been a hugely supportive partner, with its investment and guidance, enabling us to successfully deliver our strategic goals.  The management team including Alex Renshaw (CTO) and Kevin DaSilva (non-exec Chairman) look forward to continuing to develop the business as a private company.”

Mondi pleases investors with solid third quarter results

·         Mondi reassured the markets with a good set of results

·         Underlying profits rose 27%

As Mondi reports third quarter results, Ian Forrest, Investment Research Analyst at The Share Centre, explains what they could mean for investors.

“Paper and packaging group Mondi provided a reassuring third quarter trading update to the market this morning. Underlying operating profits rose 27% to €221m, with good performances from all the main business units.

“Like-for-like sales volumes rose, key input costs remained stable, and the company reported a limited impact from volatile foreign exchange rates. Mondi is seeing stable to higher selling prices and expects the steady overall progress to continue for the rest of the year. However, planned maintenance shutdowns are having an impact on profits.

“This is a positive update for investors and we continue to see these shares as a solid long-term buy for medium risk investors seeking a balanced portfolio. This is thanks to the wide diversity of the company’s products and the steady increase in demand for packaging around the world from online retailers and supermarkets.”