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Disrupting the sports nutrition market with a healthy, high-performance, bee product-based energy gel in highly innovative compostable packaging

Project description

A shot of natural energy for all athletes

Running out of energy during intense training is an athlete’s worse nightmare. That’s why energy gels – carbohydrate gels that provide energy for exercise are commonly used for running, cycling and triathlons. But energy gels are usually difficult to open, eat and process – and sometimes taste bad. The EU-funded METAMORFOSIS project is taking a shot at this rapidly growing market. Its gel is made with bee products and other 100 % natural, easy-to-digest healthy ingredients. It’s also packed in compostable packaging that is hygienic and non-sticky. Already backed by athletes and nutritionists, the METAMORFOSIS gel is poised to become the market’s leading 100 % natural sports nutrition brand.

Objective

While energy gels are widely used in endurance sports, they are not currently user- or environmentally-friendly: A) hard-to-use empty gel packaging made from single use plastic ends up littering the countryside, B) they are far from natural or healthy, C) taste unpleasant and D) offer sub-optimal sports performance. In fact, gels are considered a necessary evil, yet it’s a fast-growing market of almost €1bn in 2017, expected to reach €1.76bn by 2025 (8.1% CAGR 2017-27). Metamorfosis' gels address these issues: they are packed in our compostable packaging, which is hygienic and non-sticky; are made with delicious bee products and other 100% natural, easy-to-digest healthy ingredients; and offer world-class sports performance. It is a world-first for a gel to be in compostable packaging, which we will patent and licence to 3rd parties.

Our project is backed by research and endorsed by sports stars and nutritionists. In the Phase 2 project we will refine gels & packaging, industrialise Metamorfosis, register all IPR and generate pre-launch awareness & a strong sales pipeline.

We are Food Sourcing Specialists, S.L. a well-established Barcelona-based healthy/sports food producer, distributor & retailer with deep sector knowledge, over 650 B2B clients & an online B2C retail store. We will conduct our own distribution in Spain/Andorra and distribute in other countries via our existing network of international suppliers/distributors. Our aim is to disrupt the market, capture 2% thereof 5 years from product launch (€35m/year net sales) & become the leading 100% natural sports nutrition brand, while reducing plastic pollution & protecting bee colonies, including a 1% donation of revenues to BeeLife (bee protection organisation).

Total budget: €2,711,012. Grant requested: €1,897,708. After 5 years of commercialisation, we expect a 42% gross margin, 37% IRR and €7.5m cumulative EBITDA.

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Topic(s)

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SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020

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Coordinator

FOOD SOURCING SPECIALISTS SL
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 1 897 708,05
Address
PASSEIG DE GRACIA 95 5 1A
08008 Barcelona
Spain

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Este Cataluña Barcelona
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 2 711 011,50
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