nir-vana innovation network

During service, food has to be kept warm on various appliances, necessarily connected to the mains. This limits the service in central buffets and self-services and makes it necessary to cover the food, especially if the buffets are far from the kitchen. This is expensive in terms of operating costs and logistics.

The Swiss start-up developed an "all in one" catering equipment for processing and distributing collective hot meals based on a different thermodynamic principle than cooking or reheating food. This new process has a positive impact on the overall quality of the meals as it’s not damaging the food and on the ecological balance, such as energy and logistics costs.

The proposed technology maintains the temperature of the food by the cooling thermal flux founded on the thermodynamic principle of cooling by conduction in materials, with the following avantages:

- amortized thermal transfer suited for the food
- thermal optimization compact system (positive energy) allowing to enlarge the distribution surface (direct energy efficiency)
- temperature stability avoiding thermal breaks (sanitary and organoleptic norms)
- does not have to be connected to the mains all the time

• Impacts on the economic model

- Less handling needed for ovens, cookers, plate warmers, plates, microwaves, cover plates, transport trolleys, etc. This reduces logistics costs and increases staff motivation.
- Equipment can be spread over various places of consumption, facilitating the service and avoiding queues; the timing is more flexible.
- Better attractiveness, food safety, nutrients, global quality accessible to all, traceability, public health.
- Same equipment for polyvalent uses, modular and quickly ready to use everywhere (decentralized buffets, banquets, in and outdoor, 24h service).

• Main field of applications:

- Catering field : this industrial concept allows versatile applications adapted to the all current market, comprised embedded solutions for transport and deliveries, new concepts of restoration.

- Other areas: Local, concentrated heat transfer in industry, construction, medicine, etc.

• Desired cooperation

The start-up is looking for partners interested in a commercial agreement with technical assistance or a joint venture agreement. Industrial partners working with stamping metals (inox, alu), 3D drawing, thermoformage are sought.

Advantages & innovations

The catering equipments developed by the Swiss company improve the quality of the food and services, as well as the environmental impact: - unlike a centralized service (buffets, self-services), the meals are served at the tables (up to 30- 35 meals by group) - queues, noise and movements are avoided - quality of the service is improved, for a better satisfaction/wellbeing of the consumers and workforce team (less service personnel round trips, less handling ) - personalised buffets served directly to the guests thanks preheated containers and controlled heat - more flexibility in the variety of menus (vegetarian, local products, diets, etc.), different menus by adapting the number of containers - better management of the quantities distributed, so less waste as the technology allows to serve better quality food – at the right temperature, with more taste and attractiveness - than that of the traditional buffets

Stage of development

Field tested/evaluated

Partner sought

Industrial partners working with stamping metals (inox, alu), 3D drawing, thermoformage (resin, wood, porcelain ) are sought. The tasks to be performed by the partner sought: For commercial agreement with technical assistance: Assembly, production line, R&D in design and planning (custom designs adaptable to all markets) For joint venture agreement: Assembly, distribution