Top 8 F&B startups serving fresh innovation in 2026 From plant-powered steaks to gut-friendly sodas, these eight F&B startups are serving up the future of food - tasty, sustainable, and smart. Written by Emily Clark Updated on 12 February 2026 Our experts We are a team of writers, experimenters and researchers providing you with the best advice with zero bias or partiality. Our Startups 100 Index for 2026 is all about celebrating the most ambitious, innovative, and impactful young companies making bold ideas work in the real world.This includes startups that are shaking things up in the F&B scene and, in 2026, this is all about eating better without making life harder. More Brits are reaching for fibre-rich and gut-friendly products without compromising on flavour, while sustainability and cutting down on food waste continue to influence what ends up in people’s baskets.Meanwhile, tech is creeping into the kitchen with personalised meal plans, flexible menus, and tailored shopping quickly becoming the norm for today’s consumers.As minds and stomachs continue to change, these eight Startups 100 companies are spicing up the scene — serving up innovation on a plate and taking bold bites out of the future of food and drink. 1. Hoxton FarmsFounder(s):Ed SteeleMax JamillyHoxton Farms grows real animal fat from cells in the lab, but without raising or slaughtering animals in the process. It uses cell biology, machine learning and proprietary bioreactor tech to create cultivated fats that can be used with plant protein to improve the taste, texture, and flavour of meat alternatives.From a 14,000 square-foot pilot facility in East London, founders Ed Steele and Max Jamilly are building the future of cultivated fat. They’ve also applied for market approval in Singapore — the first of its planned regulatory submissions across Asia, the UK and North America — and are one step closer to its mission to become the global leader in cultivated fat.2. Adamo Foods Sustainability Award Nominee In recognition of a sustainability leader that prioritises the health of the planet as part of its company mission. Startups 100: Sustainability Award Founder(s):Pierre DupuisAdamo Foods offers environmentally friendly steak substitutes that don’t sacrifice flavour. This magic formula hinges on putting masses of freshly-grown fungi through a fermentation process, so that Adamo products can offer the same rich texture and savoury taste you’d expect from a regular cut of beef.While working in the food industry, founder Pierre Dupuis uncovered the reality behind so-called “plant-based” products — they were ultra-processed and full of artificial ingredients.It was this discovery that inspired Dupuis to start Adamo Foods and his mission to create meat alternatives that used fewer than five ingredients. This, along with the company’s aim to challenge a food system that slaughters over 70 billion animals each year, earned Adamo Foods a nomination for the Startups 100 Sustainability Award.3. Bold Bean Co Marketing Award Winner To recognise the startups that demonstrate the most creative and effective method for building early-stage brand awareness. Startups 100: Marketing Award Founder(s):Amelia Christie-Miller and Ed WhelptonMaking its third appearance on the Startups 100 Index, Bold Bean Co is on a mission to revolutionise how people think about beans by turning legumes into a premium, flavour-forward ingredient for everyday cooking. Through premium and slow-cooked legumes — like butter beans and chickpeas — Bold Bean products aim to offer better texture and deeper flavour than standard tinned options.It was this passion to put beans in the spotlight that won founders Amelia Christie-Miller and Ed Whelpton a £50K investment on Dragons’ Den in 2024 and got their products on the shelves of major supermarkets like Tesco and Sainsbury’s. Plus, with its playful branding of stylish glass jars and bold labels, as well as its library of “beanspo” recipes, it’s easy to see why Bold Bean took home the Startups 100 Marketing Award for this year.4. STOCKEDFounder(s):Sam MossCharlie GilpinDesigned to be quick, versatile and low-waste, STOCKED makes chef-cooked frozen meal “blocks” to cater to busy lifestyles. Whether it’s a one-off purchase or through its subscription model, you simply heat the blocks and pair them with food items like rice, pasta, or wraps, and you’ve got a complete and flavourful meal in minutes.This simple yet innovative idea led founders Sam Moss and Charlie Gilpin to secure a £50K investment from Steven Bartlett on Dragons’ Den in 2024. Just a year later, STOCKED became Ocado’s second highest-selling frozen ready-meal brand, sold its millionth meal block, and raised $1.3m in seed funding — a true testament to its mission to reduce food waste and plastic use.5. JUX FoodFounder(s):Anna WoodJUX Food uses advanced freeze-drying technology to transform herbs, vegetables, spices and super-food ingredients into 100% natural and shelf-stable cooking ingredients that retain the same nutrition as fresh produce. With a range of freeze-dried products — including garlic, basil, red onion and beetroot — JUX makes it easy to add fresh flavours and nutrition to any meal with minimal prep. Plus, it causes much less waste than traditional dried or fresh produce.Tackling the typical barriers of eating fresh plants daily (particularly cost and accessibility) and the UK’s continuous food waste problem, JUX has experienced a 338% year-on-year growth. Its products are available at Tesco, Ocado, CLF, and other independents across the country. It’s also won the custom of some notable TV chefs, including James Martin, Steven Wallis, and Elizabeth Haigh.6. Wylde MarketFounder(s):Nick JeffersonElla CooperWylde Market is bringing your local farmers’ market online — letting customers shop directly from independent producers (like farmers, fishermen, and food artisans) by browsing fresh and high-quality meat, fish, dairy, fruit, vegetables and other items all in one place. Everything you order gets delivered straight to your door, with producers setting their own prices and descriptions, so buyers know exactly where their food is coming from.This transparent and sustainable approach has seen Wylde Market raise over £300k through crowdfunding, on top of £650K from angel investors. Demand has also outpaced supply, with founders Nick Jefferson and Ella Cooper having to move warehouses twice to keep up — proving that their vision is resonating with customers looking for fresh, traceable, and sustainable food.7. Living ThingsFounder(s):Jonathan RelphBen VearLiving Things makes all-natural prebiotic sodas with low sugar and high fibre. With a range of flavours — including rhubarb & apple, watermelon & lime, and peach & blood orange — Living Things is all about offering a gut-friendly and healthier alternative to traditional soft drinks. Plus, with new Government laws on sugary drinks causing a steep decline in regular soda sales, Living Things arrived at the perfect time.After selling over 100K cans during its first six months of training — plus getting backing from BrewDog founder James Watt — Living Things has since hit the shelves of major retailers like Tesco, Waitrose, and Harrods. Now sold in 5,000 UK stores and 14 countries, the brand is making its mark globally, bringing more healthy soda than ever while redefining what a soft drink can be.8. MealiaFounder(s):Gabriel CorbettRish ChowdhryBringing artificial intelligence (AI) technology to your everyday shopping, Mealia offers an AI-powered meal planning and grocery assistant that helps people save time, money, and reduce food waste through personalised weekly meal plans and smart shopping baskets based on budget, dietary needs, and preferred supermarket. Customers simply tell the app what they want to eat, and it suggests recipes and builds a tailored list that can be used in-store or online.Hitting 100K users and winning partnerships with Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons, Mealia’s AI shopping assistant eases the stress of time constraints, endless choices, and tight budgets. This has made the platform establish itself as a go-to solution for smart and stress-free meal planning — helping many households across the UK eat better, save money, and waste less.The future of F&B: bold, smart, and sustainableThese eight startups show just how much the F&B landscape is changing right now. From lab-grown fats and sustainable steak alternatives to AI-powered meal planning and zero-waste cooking solutions, innovation is filling every corner.As we continue into 2026, the demand is clear. Consumers are looking for products that are healthier and more sustainable, without having to sacrifice the taste and experience they get from their usual choices. In other words, people don’t choose healthy food if it tastes boring, so F&B companies that combine this need with nutrition are the ones winning over shoppers.All in all, the next wave of F&B will be bold, tech-enabled, and purpose-driven —proving that the industry’s future isn’t just about what we eat, but how we produce, shop and enjoy it.Curious about the hottest startups outside F&B? Check out the full Startups 100 Index for 2026 to see all the standout companies — including who we crowned as number one. Share this post facebook twitter linkedin Tags News and Features Written by: Emily Clark Writer Having worked in a startup environment first-hand as a Content Manager, Emily specialises in content around organisational culture - helping SMEs build strong, people-first workplaces that stay true to their core values. She also holds an MSc in Digital Marketing and Analytics, giving her the knowledge and skills to create a diverse range of creative and technical content. Aside from her expertise in company culture, her news articles breaks down the big issues in the small business world, making sure our SME audience stays informed and ready for whatever’s next. With a genuine passion for helping small businesses grow, Emily is all about making complex topics accessible and creating content that can help make a difference.