MEAL, the first programme that combines haute cuisine and innovation

The MEAL initiative from Eni, via Joule, Enilive and chef Niko Romito and his Academy has been launched, pioneering a new frontier in food retail innovation. MEAL is a business acceleration programme focused on innovative startups and SMEs, designed to introduce technological food solutions to the retail market. The project combines industrial know-how, tech research and fine dining to craft healthier, more sustainable and affordable products, available to customers at Enilive sales points: Alt Stazione del Gusto, Enilive Café and Enilive Shop.

The programme starts today with a global call to find innovative solutions in three key areas:

• use of innovative ingredients in terms of health, such as legume flours for gluten-free bakery products, or with the use of fermented vegetable pastes, but also in terms of sustainability, by reusing waste;
• development of cutting-edge products, capable of combining taste, health, sustainability and long shelf life;
• design of sustainable packaging, with recyclable solutions for new stabilisation processes, to improve both product quality and environmental, economic and social impact. 

Selected companies will undertake an intensive co-innovation course lasting six months, divided into two main phases:

1. incubation and mentoring, with a personalised coaching programme curated by Enilive and the Niko Romito Academy;
2. testing and definition of use cases, to validate prototypes and integrate them into Enilive formats.

The programme will unfold across two complementary centres: the Ostiense Gasometer in Rome, Eni’s innovation hub for scouting, mentoring and market evaluation, and Castel di Sangro, the site of the Niko Romito Academy, where startups can work closely with the chef and a team of trainers to refine their products in the lab.

Niko Romito says: “I strongly believe in this pioneering project that focuses on research, training and development. It engages enterprising young people and harnesses technology to enhance flavour, aiming to transform the industrial food paradigm. The goal is to make quality, health and sustainability accessible on a large scale.”  

MEAL’s distinctive strength lies in the collaboration between players covering the entire innovation chain: Joule and the Open Innovation Tech unit coordinate market assessment, scouting and mentoring activities, while the Niko Romito Academy provides spaces, specialised laboratories and excellent training.

Strategic partners from the foodtech ecosystem support the programme’s activities, strengthening the project: Plug and Play, a global innovation platform, and Eatable Adventures, an international Agrifoodtech accelerator.