Tastewise Lands $50M to Scale GenAI Marketing Tools for the $10T Food Industry
- Industry News
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
From trend prediction to retail execution, the GenAI platform helps global F&B brands keep pace with an unpredictable consumer landscape.
At a moment when the global food and beverage sector faces tightening margins, volatile consumer preferences, and surging competition from private labels, generative AI platform Tastewise has secured a $50 million Series B to meet the moment.
The round, led by TELUS Global Ventures, was joined by Duo Partners, Peakbridge, Disruptive AI, and PICO Venture Partners, bringing the company’s total funding to $72 million. Tastewise plans to use the new capital to grow its presence in North America, Europe, and APAC, expand its toolset, and deepen integration with leading marketing tech stacks.
Founded in 2017 by former Google executive Alon Chen, Tastewise has quietly become a behind-the-scenes engine for some of the world’s most recognizable food brands. Its AI-native platform draws on trillions of real-time food data points—menus, recipes, social posts, and e-commerce—to generate sales materials, campaign ideas, and go-to-market strategies tailored to shifting consumer demands.
Already trusted by over half of the Fortune 100 F&B companies, Tastewise’s client roster includes PepsiCo, Mars, Campbell’s, Givaudan, and Kraft Heinz.
“Food and beverage companies are facing a perfect storm—margin pressure, competitive shelf space, and constantly evolving consumer behavior,” said Chen, who serves as CEO. “Our platform doesn’t just tell companies what consumers want—it helps them act on that insight immediately.”
Speed Over Surveys
Tastewise is positioning itself as more than just a trendspotting tool. While companies like AI Palette and Gastrograph focus primarily on predictive insights, Tastewise is built to automate execution: transforming insights into ready-made decks, positioning frameworks, and menu recommendations. The platform allows product and marketing teams to move rapidly, often shaving 6–8 months off launch timelines and saving clients millions in execution costs.
That level of agility is increasingly critical. According to Tastewise data, 91% of menu changes last quarter were price increases, with an average bump of over $1. Meanwhile, private label market share is growing four times faster than national brands, putting added pressure on legacy players to innovate and differentiate.
“As brands try to stay relevant in this new landscape, generative AI is emerging as a strategic advantage,” said Terry Doyle, Managing Partner at TELUS Global Ventures. “Tastewise is redefining how companies turn data into revenue-driving action. That’s why we’re backing them to lead this shift.”
From Insight to Impact
For major players like Kraft Heinz, the ability to close the gap between consumer insight and market delivery has real-world implications.
“At Kraft Heinz, a deep understanding of rapidly evolving consumer needs and trends, fueled by data-driven insights, is critical,” said Peter Hall, President of Away-from-Home, North America. “Tastewise’s generative AI accelerates our execution speed, enabling us to proactively anticipate and deliver relevant innovations.”
The platform is also gaining traction in retail and foodservice. One recent collaboration with Kroger saw Tastewise reposition an existing product line, moving it quickly from internal testing to hundreds of stores—supported by data-rich storytelling and tailored demand generation.
Building the OS of F&B
Chen, who spoke candidly about his journey on the FoodTech Junkies podcast, sees Tastewise as a much-needed operating system for an industry that’s historically lagged in tech adoption. “You can build the best plant-based snack, but if you don’t get shelf space or tell the right story to the right buyer, it’ll fail,” he said. “It’s not just about what’s trending—it’s about contextualizing, packaging, and getting to market fast.”
Tastewise's AI monitors not only consumer behavior but also regional flavor profiles, ingredient use cases, and health claims, helping companies tailor messaging for different demographics, consumption moments, and geographies. The platform analyzes more than 1.2 million U.S. menus monthly, with growing coverage across Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific.
Beyond enterprise support, the company is also working to democratize access to food intelligence. It now offers free public-facing trend dashboards and is exploring open-access models to support smaller businesses and nonprofits.
A Competitive Edge in a Fragmented Market
Tastewise is not the only player using AI to help the food system make better decisions. Platforms like Vinhood, FoodPairing, and Zest also use machine learning to address consumer taste, formulation, or waste. But Tastewise’s focus on automating execution across retail, foodservice, and marketing gives it a unique position in the growing F&B tech stack.
“What we’re building is more than a trend engine,” said Chen. “It’s an execution engine—one that gives companies the power to move faster, tell better stories, and bring products to life with precision.”
With fresh capital, a growing global client base, and a clear point of differentiation, Tastewise is well-positioned to lead the next wave of tech adoption in one of the world’s most complex industries. In an era where 90% of food product launches still fail, execution may finally get the AI edge it needs.
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