Food Organisation of Denmark

What Food Organisation of Denmark does

Food Organisation of Denmark (FOOD) is a Danish non-profit founded in 2011, headquartered in Valby (Copenhagen) with a regional office in Aarhus and approximately 14+ full-time staff. The organization's stated mission is to create networking, learning, and visibility for the Danish gastronomy sector by connecting and providing a stage to those who lead, innovate, develop, and think green in food. Its core activities span festival organization (Copenhagen Cooking, Food Festival in Aarhus, Madens Folkemøde), advisory services (Det Grønne Rejsehold, Planteløftet, Turbo Plant 360), awards programs (Årets Ret, Jatak-prisen), and convening projects on the future of Danish food culture and sustainability.

The operating portfolio extends well beyond events. FOOD owns the Danish hosting role for the MICHELIN Guide Nordic Countries ceremonies (Odsherred 2025, Tivoli Copenhagen 2026), runs the Fonden Dansk Gastronomi foundation honoring culinary figures, and convenes thematic initiatives including Madfællesskabet (a rural-urban food network spanning multiple municipalities and regions), Okse på dagsordenen (beef in sustainable food systems), Kål og Ko (dairy's role in green meals), KISMET (an Interreg Baltic Sea Region circular food economy project transferred to FOOD in January 2025), and the Michelin-partnered Smag på Anneberg festival. The technology footprint is minimal: no proprietary platform, no APIs; the organization uses Skyfish for GDPR-compliant media storage and conventional channels (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, monthly email newsletter) for distribution.

The business model is non-profit membership and partnership based. Revenue is generated through corporate membership fees (Danish Crown, Arla, Royal Unibrew), government partnership funding (Erhvervsministeriet, Miljø- og Fødevareministeriet, Københavns Kommune), project grants from foundations (Industriens Fond, Velliv Foreningen, Fonden for Plantebaserede Fødevarer) and EU programs (Interreg Baltic Sea Region), and Danish agricultural levy funds (Mælkeafgiftsfonden, Kartoffelafgiftsfonden, Produktionsafgiftsfonden, Promilleafgiftsfonden for Landbrug). Governance rests with an eight-member board drawn from the same member organizations, with CEO Pelle Øby Andersen leading day-to-day operations and Anna Lund directing the Aarhus office.

Name

Food Organisation of Denmark

Legal name

Food Organisation of Denmark

Website

https://thefoodproject.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Food Organisation of Denmark (FOOD) is a Danish non-profit that strengthens Danish gastronomy by organizing Copenhagen Cooking and Food Festival in Aarhus, hosting the Michelin Guide Nordic Countries ceremonies, and running sustainability and plant-based projects funded by food industry members, government ministries, and foundations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Industry Events and Consulting

NAICS

Special Food Services (7223), Food Service Contractors (722310)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAGAEAF

Food, Drink & Culinary Community Festivals (Community-Led)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Cultural Festivals & Community Events

SECONDARYTHAJAGAL

Food Festivals & Culinary Events (Ticketed Tastings, Pop-ups)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Food & Drink Experiences (Culinary Tours, Tastings, Cooking Classes)

SECONDARYMPAGAFAE

Food, Wine & Beverage Festivals/Expos

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Exhibitions, Fairs & Expos (Consumer/Public)

Keywords

• Food festival organization
• Gastronomy consulting services
• Culinary industry networking
• Sustainable food initiatives
• Food sector development

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership and Partnership Fees: Food Organisation of Denmark operates with membership and partnership support from leading food companies and government bodies. Partners include Erhvervsministeriet, Miljø- og fødevareministeriet, Danish Crown, Arla, Royal Unibrew, and Københavns Kommune.
2. Project-based Consulting and Advisory Services: FOOD provides consulting and advisory services to food companies and public sector organizations on food-related projects, concept development, and communication strategies.
3. Festival and Event Organization: Organization and execution of major food festivals and events including Copenhagen Cooking, Food Festival, Madens Folkemøde, and Michelin-related events, which may include sponsorship, ticket sales, and partner contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Food Organisation of Denmark (FOOD) is a non-profit that organizes major food festivals (Copenhagen Cooking, Food Festival, Madens Folkemøde) and provides consulting, concept development, and communication services within the food and gastronomy sector. It also runs industry programs (Turbo Plant 360, Planteløftet, Det Grønne Rejsehold), culinary awards (Årets Ret, Jatak-prisen), and partners on hosting the MICHELIN Guide Nordic Countries ceremonies in Denmark.

Product overview

Food Organisation of Denmark (FOOD) is a non-profit organization that creates networking, learning, and visibility for the gastronomic industry. Rather than a unified software product, FOOD operates a portfolio of festivals, award programs, consulting services, and collaborative projects focused on food and gastronomy. Core festivals include Copenhagen Cooking (annual 10-day festival in late August) and Food Festival (Denmark's largest food festival in Aarhus in early September), along with Madens Folkemøde. The organization runs awards programs including Årets Ret (annual culinary awards with Foreningen af Danske Madanmeldere) and Jatak-prisen. FOOD provides consulting through Det Grønne Rejsehold (mobile green advisory team) and operates programs like Turbo Plant 360 for plant-based business growth, Morgendagens Madtalenter for young food entrepreneurs, and Planteløftet for professional kitchen education. The organization partners on the MICHELIN Guide Nordic Countries ceremonies and manages various thematic initiatives including Madfællesskabet, Okse på dagsordenen, Kål og Ko, and Kismet. FOOD does not offer a commercial software product with APIs or integrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Copenhagen Cooking Annual food festival in Copenhagen held over ten days in late August, celebrating the capital's gastronomic scene with participation from chefs, restaurants, cultural institutions, and food enthusiasts.
• Food Festival Denmark's largest food festival held at Tangkrogen in Aarhus during the first weekend of September, attracting 30,000 guests over three days across a 50,000 m2 festival area.
• Madens Folkemøde Two-day event in Nykøbing Falster bringing together 10,000 guests, politicians, researchers, industry professionals, and food enthusiasts for debates, workshops, cooking demonstrations, and discussions about food culture and food systems.
• Årets Ret Annual culinary awards competition organized with Foreningen af Danske Madanmeldere, recognizing the best restaurant dishes in categories including Hav (Sea), Land, and Sødt (Sweet), along with special prizes for bistro, service, beverage service, smørrebrød, and bar.
• Jatak-prisen 2026 Award honoring everyday heroes in the restaurant industry who make a difference for workplace morale through care, action, and teamwork, presented in partnership with NECTO at Madens Folkemøde.
• Turbo Plant 360 Program helping Danish food companies increase sales of plant-based and plant-rich products and ingredients through sales matching, supplier connections, product development, strategy consulting, and networking.
• Morgendagens Madtalenter Free networking program for young food entrepreneurs aged 20-30, offering dinners, workshops, inspiration trips, and opportunities to try food concepts at festivals, with transport covered for distances over 30 km.
• MICHELIN Guide Nordic Countries Partnership Partnership role in hosting the Nordic Michelin Guide ceremony, with the 2025 event held at Anneberg Kulturpark in Odsherred and the 2026 ceremony scheduled at Tivoli in Copenhagen, including the new Smag på Anneberg food festival.
• Det Grønne Rejsehold Mobile advisory service offering Danish restaurants professional guidance and inspiration for developing green dishes, using more local produce, and improving quality and dining experience, consisting of top chefs and communication specialists.
• Spis med i vores køkkener Copenhagen Municipality's food festival for public kitchens, where schools, care homes, and social institutions open their doors for one evening to showcase the meals served daily to children, students, elderly, and municipal employees.
• Fonden Dansk Gastronomi Foundation promoting Danish gastronomy by honoring established culinary figures and supporting future talent, offering masterclasses and the Kokkenes Kok (Chef of Chefs) annual award.
• Kål og Ko Project exploring how milk, dairy products, and cattle can play a role in future green meals through events, webinars, and films featuring farmers, cows, and chefs.
• Madfællesskabet Network strengthening connections between rural and urban food systems, consisting of municipalities and regions working to increase local food procurement for city kitchens and build understanding of production methods.
• Okse på dagsordenen Ongoing initiative examining beef's role in future sustainable food systems through debates at festivals, webinars for professional kitchens, video content, knowledge magazines, and recipes developed with chefs.
• Kismet Circular economy and food innovation project within the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme 2021-2027, providing tools and instruments for sustainable food environments in cities and regions around the Baltic Sea.
• Planteløftet Professional knowledge hub for green kitchens offering live webinars from public kitchens, focused sessions on specific topics, on-tour events, and educational materials including knowledge posters and a state-of-report on plant-rich meals.

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Erhvervsministeriet (Ministry of Industry)coreOthersGovernment ministry partner that supports FOOD's work to develop Food Denmark and strengthen the Danish food sector.
• Miljø- og Fødevareministeriet (Ministry of Environment and Food)coreOthersGovernment ministry partner supporting FOOD's food sector development and sustainability initiatives.
• Danish CrowncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Danish meat producer and member of Food Organisation of Denmark, supporting the organization's mission to develop Danish gastronomy.
• ArlacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Danish dairy company and member/partner of FOOD, contributing to various food projects and festivals.
• Royal UnibrewcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish beverage company and member/partner of FOOD supporting food sector development initiatives.
• Københavns Kommune (City of Copenhagen)coreOthersMunicipal government partner in various FOOD projects including Copenhagen Cooking, Michelin Guide events, and Spis med i vores køkkener.
• Team Gastronomi DanmarksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeam Gastronomi Danmark is a member/partner supporting FOOD's work to develop the Danish food sector.
• VisitDenmarkcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational tourism organization partner in the Michelin Guide Nordic Countries celebration, working to promote Danish gastronomy internationally.
• Wonderful CopenhagencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCopenhagen tourism organization that is part of the steering group organizing the Danish hosting of Michelin Guide Nordic Countries ceremonies.
• TivolicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamous Copenhagen amusement park hosting the 2026 Michelin Guide Nordic Countries ceremony.
• HORESTAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish hospitality industry association partnering with FOOD on various food projects and Michelin Guide celebrations.
• Landbrug & FødevarercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish Agriculture & Food Council partnering on food sector development and Michelin Guide events.
• MadbilletsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for 'En bid af stjernerne' (A Bite of the Stars) gastronomy event series celebrating Danish gastronomy in 2026.
• INCOsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for the 'En bid af stjernerne' gastronomy event series celebrating Danish gastronomy.
• BC CateringsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCatering company partner for the 'En bid af stjernerne' gastronomy event series.
• AB CateringsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCatering company partner for the 'En bid af stjernerne' gastronomy event series.
• Foreningen af Danske MadanmelderecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of Danish food critics that FOOD collaborates with on the Årets Ret (Dish of the Year) competition and awards.
• Kost og ErnæringsforbundetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish Diet & Nutrition Association partnering on Planteløftet project for professional kitchens.
• PlanteværketsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Planteløftet project providing knowledge and inspiration for plant-based meals in professional kitchens.
• MadfællesskabetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of Danish municipalities and regions (including Region Hovedstaden, København, Lejre, Lolland, Bornholm, Region Midtjylland, Syddjurs, Norddjurs) partnered on Planteløftet project.
• Vejle ErhvervsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness development organization in Vejle partnering with FOOD on KISMET project for circular food systems.
• NECTOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiator and partner of Jatak-prisen (Jatak Prize) in collaboration with FOOD to strengthen wellbeing and community in the restaurant industry.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Foodies Festival: UK-based organizer of large-scale consumer food festivals featuring chef demonstrations, tastings, and producer showcases. Directly comparable to FOOD's Food Festival and Copenhagen Cooking as a multi-city food festival operator targeting food enthusiasts and the gastronomy industry.
• Taste of London: Premium ticketed food and drink festival in Regent's Park, London, bringing together leading restaurants, chefs, and producers. Comparable in concept to FOOD's festival offerings with restaurant-led tastings and chef showcases.

Broad incumbents

• Salon International de l'Alimentation (SIAL): One of the world's largest B2B food exhibitions, held biennially in Paris with global editions. Comparable to FOOD's role in convening food producers and buyers, but operating at a vastly larger, commercial scale across multiple geographies.
• Anuga: The world's largest food and beverage trade fair held biennially in Cologne, Germany, covering 10 trade fair segments. Comparable as a major food industry convener, but operates as a commercial trade fair rather than a mission-driven non-profit.
• Alimentaria: Leading food, beverage, and foodservice trade fair held biennially in Barcelona, Spain. Comparable to FOOD as a multi-stakeholder food industry platform, but at a commercial scale with international exhibitor reach.
• Tuttofood Milano: B2B food and beverage exhibition hosted at Fiera Milano, showcasing Italian and international food producers. Comparable as a food industry convener, with a similar focus on connecting producers, retailers, and food service operators.
• Messe Berlin (International Green Week): Operator of International Green Week Berlin, a major consumer and trade fair for food, agriculture, and gardening. Comparable as a long-running, multi-format food event organizer with both B2B and consumer components.

Regional players

• Danish Food Cluster: Danish cluster organization for food and ingredient companies, funded by the Danish Agency for Institutions and Educational Grants, supporting innovation and networking across the Danish food industry. Comparable to FOOD's networking and innovation mandate within the same Danish geography.

Others

• VisitDenmark: Denmark's national tourism organization, which partners with FOOD on the Michelin Guide Nordic Countries celebration. Adjacent rather than competitive — promotes Denmark (including gastronomy) to international audiences as a tourism destination.
• HORESTA: Danish trade association for hotels, restaurants, and catering. A board-level partner of FOOD with overlapping industry membership. Comparable as a hospitality industry convener in Denmark, but focused on policy and member services rather than festivals and consumer events.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FondenDanskGastronomiDK
• Instagraminstagram.com/aarets_ret

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles31 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Food Organisation of Denmark