Fast-growing startup I-lunch has announced a €5 million round of financing from Banque des Territoires, Karista via the Paris Region Venture Fund (PRVF), Financière Tuileries and Noveo. This new round of financing will enable the foodtech company to continue its ascent and expand its neo-restaurant service, which has already attracted players such as Adecco, Labeyrie, Castalie, Wojo and Jennyfer.
I-lunch works with its clients to reinvent their catering methods. The company offers customized catering spaces in companies, such as food corners, connected fridges (from which employees can pick up meals and products at any time of the day) or even real cafeterias with staff. I-lunch, the first canteen for teleworkers,has just sold over 2 million meals to employees and is also offering a quality home catering solution that also includes an employer contribution. The startup is present on a daily basis and accompanies its clients at all moments of corporate life (farewell parties, welcome breakfasts, afterwork sessions, meal trays, etc.).
While it aims to grow by 300% in 2021, this fundraising will allow I-lunch to:
- expand its business outside of the Île-de-France region,
- prepare a major shift in brand image as it will present its new identity at the end of the year to strengthen its position in the growing neo-restaurant market,
- to double its workforce this year and reach 80 employees
- invest significantly in technology to remain at the forefront of innovation
I-Lunch offers an innovative catering service model for companies, which is particularly relevant in the wake of the health crisis and in light of new employee habits and consumption patterns. The start-up offers ethical catering services that respect the environment, meeting the impact investment priorities of the Banque des Territoires at the service of more sustainable territories, at the crossroads of the food transition and the circular economy, says Christophe Genter, director of the Social and Territorial Cohesion department at the Banque des Territoires.
“I-lunch is rethinking the foodservice industry by putting innovation at the heart of a changing industry. The i-lunch offer is perfectly in line with the expectations and challenges of the market: product quality, responsible sourcing, zero waste and anti-waste policy. We are proud to support Victoria Benhaim and the entire team in their development to make i-lunch a reference player in its market,” said Benjamin Zerbib, Investment Director and Yvan-Michel Ehkirch, Managing Partner at Karista.
One more step towards a more responsible collective catering
Through its service, I-lunch contributes to strengthening the CSR policies of its corporate clients by offering them ethical catering services with a low carbon footprint. A pioneer in zero waste, the startup has banned plastic cutlery and bottles in order to offer reusable glass cutlery and containers, as well as Tetra Pak packaging.
To go even further, the foodtech I-lunch aims to save more than 60,000 meals in 2021 thanks to its predictive sales algorithm and the implementation of pre-orders to anticipate its production. It is also conducting operations to save unsold food in partnership with TooGoodToGo and to donate to associations. In order to fight against the overproduction of plastic waste, thanks to its deposit system, I-lunch has also saved 1 ton of disposable plastic in 2020. A figure that it intends to multiply by 10 this year by eliminating all single-use packaging.
About I-lunch
I-lunch is a FoodTech created in 2017 by Victoria Benhaim, specializing in catering solutions for companies. The company makes a point of combining the innovation of its services with the quality of its products (taste and nutrition), eco-responsibility and the well-being of employees. Every week, it offers around 20 home-made, healthy and gourmet dishes through 3 types of solutions.
– On-site canteens: Food Corners, Connected Fridge, Cafeterias…
– Le Télé Restau, the first canteen for teleworkers: quality catering solution at home with payment by meal voucher for example for the employer subsidy.
– Room service: one-off or recurring food deliveries for all needs and occasions.
Pioneer of the delivery in eco-responsible glass containers (with digital deposit system), I-lunch accompanies to date large companies such as, Thales, Nike, L’oréal, Total, Geodis, Schindler, CNRS, Crillon, Criteo, etc.
For more information: www.ilunch.fr.
