Kanpla, a Danish software-as-a-service (SaaS) company committed to transforming the contract catering industry, has successfully completed an €8 million Series A funding round led by Dutch venture capital firm HenQ. This significant investment is aimed at accelerating the company’s international expansion across Europe and the United States, as it seeks to enhance operations within the vital €285 billion global contract catering market.

Addressing Industry Challenges

The contract catering industry plays a crucial role in the daily lives of millions, providing food services to employees and students alike. However, it grapples with several ongoing challenges, including food waste reduction, compliance with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) sustainability goals, and the management of fluctuating customer flows. Kanpla’s innovative digital platform is designed to address these issues by enabling canteens to optimize their operations and enhance customer experiences.

The changing landscape of workplace culture, with only 28% of businesses requiring full-time office attendance and educational institutions increasingly adopting hybrid models, has created a heightened demand for flexible canteen services. Jonas Gøttler, COO and Co-Founder of Kanpla, highlighted the impact of these shifts: "As the workplace culture has changed, we’ve noticed key challenges like increased amounts of food waste, excessive manual work, and disconnected systems. We believe software can be a significant enabler in overcoming these issues and aim to position ourselves as the global technology leader in contract catering, helping chefs worldwide save time and creating the best possible customer experience."

Rapid Expansion Across Europe

In less than two years, Kanpla has expanded its operations from Denmark to ten countries across Europe, including Scandinavia, the UK, and Benelux. The platform has gained traction, with over 3,000 canteens now utilizing Kanpla’s services. This has allowed more than 250,000 users to access menus that display CO2 emissions and nutritional information, make purchases, earn loyalty points, and provide feedback, all through the app, point-of-sale systems, or the web.

Peter Bæch, CEO and Co-Founder, noted the increasing demand for digital solutions within Europe’s contract catering sector, stating, "We’ve seen tremendous demand for digital transformation across Europe’s contract catering sector. Our platform is helping caterers deliver more personalized experiences, better manage fluctuating foot traffic, and reduce food waste."

Aiming for the U.S. Market

With the U.S. market representing a significant segment of the global contract catering industry—estimated at over $53 billion annually—Kanpla is poised to tap into a wealth of opportunities. The recent funding will facilitate the company’s entry into the U.S. market in 2025, enabling it to extend its proven solutions to new clients and expand its influence in a key region for catering services.

As part of its growth strategy, Kanpla is also planning to double its workforce over the next year, growing from its current team of 45 employees. This expansion will support the company's ambitious goals and enhance its capacity to serve a growing customer base.

Investor Confidence

Jan Andriessen, Partner at HenQ, expressed confidence in Kanpla’s trajectory and potential for success. "We’ve been excited to witness Kanpla’s success in scaling across multiple countries over the past 18 months. We’re really impressed by their progress, and this has made us wonder about all the other great things this team can achieve. This has inspired us to lead this round as we have immense confidence in Kanpla and their plans to enter the U.S. market," he stated.

Kanpla's €8 million Series A funding marks a pivotal moment for the company as it seeks to revolutionize the contract catering industry through digital transformation. With a strong foundation in Europe and ambitious plans for expansion into the U.S. market, Kanpla is well-positioned to address the industry's pressing challenges and enhance the catering experience for thousands of users worldwide. As the company aims to become the leading all-in-one solution for contract catering, its innovative approach and commitment to sustainability could significantly reshape how food services operate in diverse environments.