Relocalize Inc. is a Montreal, QC-based company that hyper-localizes packaged food manufacturing with autonomous factories that eliminate middle mile logistics (and CO2 emissions), reduce product costs and cut waste.
The company received $246,618 in funding to demonstrate the world’s first autonomous micro-factory for food and beverage, in a pilot partnership with an unnamed U.S. retailer/distributor.
We spoke to Wayne McIntyre, CEO and co-founder of Relocalize, to hear more about the company and its plans.
Q: What is your company’s mission?
A: Our mission is to make packaged food and beverage products better, greener and more affordable.
Q: Why did you apply for this funding and how will you use it?
A: This funding made it possible to deploy the world’s first autonomous micro-factory for food. With CFIN’s help, we are conducting a proof of concept in partnership with a major regional retailer to demonstrate the decarbonization, cost reduction and product improvement benefits of hyper-local food.
Q: What excites you most about working in this area of the food industry?
A: Nothing is more important to people that the nourishment and pleasure of food. At the same time, the food industry is a root cause of some of our biggest problems, including plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. For a company looking to do right by people and the planet, the food industry could not be a more ideal sector to work in.
Q: Why is collaboration so important for accelerating innovation in the food industry? Is it difficult to find good collaborating partners, and what would make the process easier?
A: Our food system is extremely complex. Scaling innovation and solving big problems cannot be done alone. Fortunately, we have found amazing partners who are supporting us on our transformation journey. Creating platforms for exchanging ideas, building relationships, and collaborating with partners is critical to making the process easier. CFIN is a great example of how to build such a platform. Continued funding and scaling of CFIN would be helpful to make the process easier for more companies.
Q: Please comment on the importance of public funding to help companies clear innovation hurdles and access leveraged funds.
A: Canada is home to some of the world’s best innovators and entrepreneurs. But they simply don’t have the same kind of access to capital as U.S.-based startups. Public funding helps close that gap and give companies like Relocalize the opportunity to become leaders in Canada and beyond.
Q: Looking ahead, what’s on the horizon for your company?
A: We are excited to be deploying the world’s first fully autonomous food factory in partnership with CFIN. The next step is to transform our food category – packaged ice – and disrupt the North American market with better, greener, and cheaper packaged ice.
Q: What are your passions or hobbies outside of work?
A: Long distance canoe tripping and trekking trips, and sailing (my newest hobby).
Q: If you had to pick one person to make you a meal, who would you choose?
A: As a proud member of the Canadian food community, my pick needs to be a Canuck, so Michael Smith.