We’re excited to announce that, together with ChicP, we’ve been shortlisted for the Food Manufacture Collaboration and Partnership Award 2026. This recognition celebrates the innovative work we’ve done to help bring ambitious food ideas to life, from developing preservative free ambient hummus to tackling complex packaging and processing challenges. Our partnership reflects our commitment to supporting smaller food businesses, reducing waste, and turning bold ideas into reality.

Having a brilliant idea is just the beginning. For many food entrepreneurs, the real challenge is turning that idea into a safe, shelf-stable product that can be scaled. Most manufacturers only work in large volumes, leaving start-ups struggling to access the equipment, expertise, and support they need.

In this blog, Mark Naylor explores how The Food Incubator helps bridge that gap. From the vital role of thermal processing to partnerships with UK universities, he shares how we support innovators through trials, validation, and pathways to scale — with real success stories from brands like Canny Mushrooms and ChicP.

Ensuring robust product safety and quality is non-negotiable in the UK's bustling food sector. Our latest blog looks at the critical science of heat penetration testing – meticulously tracking how heat reaches the 'cold spot' in your food during thermal processing.

Discover why this process is absolutely essential yet inherently complex, from navigating natural ingredient variations and tricky packaging to addressing high microbial loads and products for vulnerable consumers.

In the demanding world of food manufacturing, waiting for post-process analysis is a gamble you simply can't afford. Imagine knowing, instantly, if your product quality or process integrity is at risk. Tecnosoft’s new BlueWave Bluetooth Data Loggers are here to transform that reactive approach into proactive control. Discover how real-time temperature and pressure monitoring can revolutionise your production, reduce costly failures, and ensure unwavering compliance. Ready to move from historical data to live insights?

We believe that robust food production validation and optimisation goes beyond simply "ticking boxes." Our team possesses in-depth industry knowledge, specialising in pasteurisation/sterilisation, process optimisation, temperature distribution, heat penetration, and validation, with a particular focus on in-pack processing and retort technology.

A leading producer of premium houmous was seeking to expand their product range with an ambient, preservative-free option. The Food Incubator worked with them to develop an ambient product that would maintain the brand's commitment to exceptional taste and quality.

A leading producer of premium bone broths, sought to expand its product reach whilst maintaining the brand’s commitment to clean, natural ingredients.

Reassured by our wide-ranging experience and the unparalleled quality of our machines, the client understood that combining the highest levels of automation with accurate process control would guarantee perfection of processing across an extensive range of supreme quality, ultra-convenient ready meals.