Planet A Foods has received two awards within a single week – a testament to the growing relevance of the Munich-based food tech startup. With its cocoa-free chocolate alternative Choviva, the company is one of the most innovative players in the European food market.
Planet A Foods was nominated as one of three finalists in the "Rising Star" category for the German Founders' Award 2025. The award is considered one of the most important entrepreneurial accolades in Germany. The jury included representatives from the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), the savings banks, ZDF, and Porsche. The startup was recognized for its exceptional growth, high degree of innovation, and entrepreneurial relevance.
The awards ceremony will take place on September 9, 2025, at the ZDF capital studio in Berlin. Previous winners include companies such as BioNTech, Flix, Enpal, and Personio.
In addition to this nomination, Planet A Foods was honored Thursday evening with the 2025 Game Changer Award in the special category "Rising Star." This award is presented annually by Bain & Company together with Manager Magazin. The goal is to honor companies that are driving economic and social change through disruptive innovations. In addition to Planet A Foods, this year's honorees included Trade Republic (Customer Experience), Trumpf (Product & Service Innovation), and the Nemetschek Group (Operations of the Future).
Choviva as a response to the cocoa shortage
Planet A Foods was founded in 2021. The company's goal is to develop sustainable alternatives to conventional ingredients – independent of fragile global supply chains. The core product Choviva Based on sunflower seeds, it is the world's first commercial chocolate alternative that is completely cocoa-free. The company is thus addressing one of the food industry's most pressing challenges: the declining availability of cocoa and the environmental costs of conventional chocolate production.
According to the company, Choviva is already available in more than 60 products in nine countries worldwide – including cereals, confectionery and baked goods. Cooperation partners include well-known brands such as Riegelein, De Beukelaer, and Piasten (Treets). The company is also aiming for international expansion: Market entries in the USA and Asia are planned.
"Both awards mean enormously to us. They demonstrate how urgently we need new, innovative ways to sustainably replace endangered ingredients like cocoa. Our cocoa-free chocolate alternative bridges the gap between rising demand and shrinking supply in the market,"
says Sara Marquart, Co-Founder and CTO of Planet A Foods.
