Foodtech as a driver of food innovation

Within the food chain, there are two very different types of organisations that are best placed to detect future market trends. The first is obvious: retailers, who keep their finger on the pulse through consumer data and daily interactions. The second is perhaps less obvious to outsiders: investors and private equity firms. The reason is of course more obvious: they have to detect the right opportunities for their future investments and that is why their insights are a benchmark.

One of those key investors is Brussels-based Kharis Capital – a private equity firm that focuses on long-term growth and innovation in the consumer sector. The name may not immediately ring a bell, but you have undoubtedly come into contact with it: Kharis Capital is the owner of QSRP, the quick service platform behind Burger King, Quick, O'Tacos, NORDSEE and Dunkin', with more than 1,000 restaurants in seven countries and a turnover of €1 billion.

We are therefore very pleased to announce Laurent Vermer, Partner at Kharis Capital, as the final speaker on the FXT25 programme. Laurent is a big believer in foodtech and during a Q&A with Johan Langenbick (Foodpairing) he will share his views on the Belgian foodtech ecosystem — exploring the interplay between capital, innovation and entrepreneurship.

BIO - Laurent Vermer

Laurent is Lead Partner at Kharis FoodTech Fund, the late-stage venture capital fund of Kharis Capital, a private equity firm that has invested over €1 billion in food and consumer companies. Launched in 2023, the fund was specifically created to leverage Kharis’ deep sector expertise and capture long-term trends in the food and foodtech sector. It supports transformative European scale-ups that are redefining the way food is produced, processed, distributed and consumed. Laurent has 20 years of international experience as both an operator and investor in the food and agriculture sector, including senior positions at AB InBev and investment company Cobepa. An early advocate of sustainable innovation, he has been active in impact investing since 2010. Laurent holds an MBA from INSEAD.