Start-up selecum and technology group Bühler have collaborated on a healthy snack range called Paddies. The snacks are small, wafer pillows, with a creamy dip inside and, through Bühler’s induction baking technology, are reportedly produced 100% CO2 emission-free. 

"I wanted to bring a new product to the market with wafer technology. I envisioned an innovative, healthier snack. A snack that is gluten-free, palm oil-free, not fried, with 40% less fat than chips and nachos and on top of that, with a high protein content,” said Camilo Wolff, CEO and founder of Selectum. “To develop this product, I approached Bühler as I knew they have the expertise and a technical laboratory for product development trials.” 

The companies ran product development trials and assessed their results in Bühler’s technical laboratory. It offers specific services to start-ups like Selectum, with support from idea creation until after the product is running on the production line. 

The laboratory is equipped with various solutions for batter and flour mixing, baking and cream refining. It offers the services of food technologists, training courses, and even virtual trials. 

Richard Haubenberger, Food Technologist at Bühler, says: “The first challenge was to find the right ingredients to use. So, we were working with different starches, such as gluten-free wheat starch, rice starch, or corn starch. We looked into rice flour and chickpea flour, which have the benefit of a higher protein level. It was a challenge to find the right raw materials. But thanks to our experience and the collaboration with our suppliers, we found the right ingredients for the best recipe.” 

Another factor important to the product’s development was sustainability. One of the technology group’s solutions at the centre is inductive technology, which allows customers a CO2-free production. 

Emanuel Hoeckner, Product Manager at Bühler, said: “The inductive heating system has a lot of benefits. The production with this new heating system is not just CO2-neutral but completely CO2-free.” 

The EWB inductive oven is powered by electrical energy, meaning no CO2 is emitted into the atmosphere. With the company’s optional power pack for the EWB inductive oven, customers have the option to increase the output capacity of the oven to adapt the production output. 

The company has adapted the oven by adding a special coating ring to deal with the higher salinity and lower pH-values of the wafer batter used for the Paddies. This coating of the baking ring enables the company to work with additional types of ingredients and recipes.