FreshDirect Names Spelt Right Foods as "Next Big Food Thing" Champion

Spelt Right Foods has been crowned the Grand Prize winner in FreshDirect's Next Big Food Thing contest, a crowd funding contest launched by FreshDirect in collaboration with RocketHub to "find the next food idea, product or innovation that could change the food world."

As the Next Big Food Thing Grand Prize winner, Spelt Right will receive $10,000 and the chance to partner with FreshDirect.

Submitted by Beth George of New York, NY, founder of Spelt Right Foods, the project is focused on raising funds for continued studies on the growth of spelt, a highly nutritious ancient grain not commonly cultivated due to its tough hull. Through funds raised on the RocketHub crowd funding platform, Spelt Right plans to continue its collaboration with the University of Maine extension program for additional studies on the cultivation of spelt, particularly in regard to underutilized farmland in the northeast, contest officials say. These studies would be available to farms seeking a working knowledge of growing this alternative and viable crop. Spelt Right produces bagels, breads, pizza dough and snacks with spelt flour.

The expert panel of judges included: Geoff Bartakovics, Tasting Table CEO; Natasha Case, Coolhaus CEO; Sarah Copeland, Real Simple food director; John Craven, BevNet founder; David McInerney, FreshDirect co-founder; and VirajPuri, Gotham Greens co-founder and CEO.

Beginning in October 2013, the "Next Big Food Thing" challenged entrepreneurs to submit innovative food-related ideas— from food products and kitchen gadgets, to farming advancements or food businesses— to be crowdfunded via Rockethub.com.  In November, 15 finalists were announced and proceeded to the crowdfunding period of the contest where they raised money for their projects. The projects raised a collective $70,000 from supporters. At the end of the crowdfunding period, all finalists' entries were reexamined by a panel of judges based on the money raised through funding, funder engagement and the overall quality of their idea.