Food Innovation Centre launches incubation facility with Chobani founder
Founder & CEO of Chobani, Hamdi Ulukaya, launches the Chobani Food Incubator in Melbourne
Monash University’s Food Innovation Centre has launched a $3 million incubation facility with Chobani yoghurt on board as its first client.
Chobani Founder, CEO and well-known food entrepreneur, Hamdi Ulukaya, was in Melbourne from the United States for the opening.
As the incubation facility’s first users, Chobani will run an Australian version of the Chobani Food Incubator which was originally established in the US to give food start-ups a helping hand.
The Australian Chobani Food Incubator program will launch by offering successful start-ups four months at the Clayton located incubation facility. Access to Chobani teams, executives and experts will also be granted, along with a $10, 000 grant for business growth.
The Food Innovation incubation facility includes three industrial kitchens, a food grade scale-up lab and a collaborative lounge.
“Never a better time to be a food entrepreneur”
Chobani Founder and CEO, Hamdi Ulukaya, said there has never been a better time to be a food entrepreneur.
“Natural food start-ups with the right mindset can change categories, challenge the big guys and make a big difference in their communities,” Ulukaya said.
“I love what’s happening with food start-ups here in Australia and want to share what we’ve learned when it comes to scaling and fighting convention like we’ve done with our other incubator programs.
“This is a no-strings-attached, grant-based program to support entrepreneurs so we can further fuel the food revolution.”
Incubator “huge benefit for the food sector”
Monash University Director of Food and Agriculture, Professor Nicholas Georges, said the incubator is a huge benefit for the food sector and Victoria.
“The Food and Agriculture Innovation initiative with Monash’s new Incubator positions the university as a leading ecosystem of innovation for the future of food and agriculture,” Professor Georges said.
The Food Innovation Centre has been located at Monash University since 2016. It provides Australian food companies with access to technology and product development services including computer aided design and research capabilities in food chemistry, packaging design and ethics.
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