The Swedish salad pioneers behind the self-serve concept, Picadeli, are built on a high-tech foundation. With a profound commitment to health and sustainability, Picadeli has garnered recognition for its advanced technology and significant contributions to transforming the food sector. Today, over 2000 Picadeli salad bars can be found across Europe and the U.S.
Beneath the surface of Picadeli’s salad bars lies a wealth of innovative ideas and AI-driven solutions. What may seem like a simple salad bar is, in fact, a connected refrigerated counter equipped with algorithms that help both stores and Picadeli determine precisely what customers want, effectively minimizing food waste.
Picadeli’s AI platform generates order recommendations based on a variety of factors, including planograms, stock levels, sales history, and even external influences like weather forecasts.
While the foodtech industry faces challenges, Picadeli stands out as a leader in the foodtech and data-driven space. Picadeli has even been awarded for their groundbreaking work, for example at the Food4Future’s Foodtech world summit.
What are the keys to their success? It’s a winning combination of innovation, technology, and consumer-centric strategies. David von Laskowski, CEO of Greenfood and Picadeli, shares his four key reasons for their achievements.
Picadeli harnesses advanced data analytics to track consumer preferences, optimize product offerings, and tailor their salad bars to specific markets. This ability to adapt in real-time enables them to meet customer demand with precision.
Picadeli taps into the rising consumer demand for healthier and more sustainable food options. Their emphasis on fresh and meat-free selections are making their offerings appealing to a more conscious clientele. A Picadeli salad emits an average of 0.8 kilos of carbon dioxide. That is almost half of a standard European lunch. That’s a big wow!
These factors collectively underscore Picadeli’s success in blending technology with evolving consumer demands, enabling them to thrive in the competitive foodtech landscape.
Picadeli's strategy of collaborating with supermarkets and other retail outlets has enabled rapid scaling without the need for standalone stores. This model of integrating their salad bars within larger establishments has allowed the company to expand while maintaining minimal overhead costs.
The company employs smart salad bars outfitted with sensors and self-service kiosks, streamlining operations and enhancing the customer experience. These kiosks minimize the need for human intervention while offering a seamless and hygienic way for customers to customize their meals, an approach that proved particularly valuable during the pandemic.
As global challenges like climate change, population growth and food security intensify, foodtech is playing a crucial role in building a more sustainable and resilient food system. By applying innovation across the entire food chain – from farming to distribution and dining, foodtech aims to improve efficiency, sustainability, and health outcomes.
Read more in our foodtech trend report: Crunching the numbers – The state of foodtech