US confectionery company Mondelez International has partnered with the non-profit food and beverage business incubator, The Hatchery Chicago, as part of its SnackFutures innovation and venture hub.

SnackFutures intends to unlock snacking growth opportunities across the world.

The Hatchery Chicago helps local entrepreneurs build and grow successful businesses via kitchen facilities and entrepreneurship curriculum, as well as partnerships with corporate sponsors and foundations.

The partnership will allow Mondelēz and the SnackFutures team to connect with the local food and beverage start-up community in order to work together to speed up and scale innovation.

“With SnackFutures, we want to disrupt the food industry by testing new ideas and scaling what works.”

Mondelēz International executive vice-president and chief growth officer Tim Cofer said: “We are truly impressed with the talented start-ups coming out of The Hatchery and are excited to be part of this journey. As the world’s snacking leader, it is increasingly important for us to collaborate with the best and brightest talent in advancing the future of snacking.

“Working with The Hatchery food entrepreneurs will help us push the boundaries of what is possible in snacking as we continue to build our ecosystem of partners while also giving back and offering guidance to new companies.”

Additionally, Mondelēz International intends to work with The Hatchery Chicago to provide educational opportunities and mentorship to entrepreneurs that are active in Chicago’s food and drink scene.

The Hatchery Chicago CEO Natalie Shmulik said: “At The Hatchery Chicago, we believe collaboration accelerates innovation and increases the rate of success for companies, big and small.

“Through this partnership with Mondelēz International, we’re creating even more opportunities for our entrepreneurs and community members to access the mentorship and industry expertise that will help them take their business to the next level.”

SnackFutures, which is supported by an ecosystem of internal experts and external partners worldwide, aims to collaborate in three areas comprising well-being snacks, premium snacks and digital platforms.