Buenos Aires company Tigoût has developed a smart, Internet of Things (IoT) oven that cooks individual, frozen dessert pods in less than 12 minutes.
Each recipe is preloaded with the required temperatures and cooking times, and Tigoût can perform system updates and add new recipes remotely, the customers don't need to do anything.
Free from additives and preservatives, each pod contains 35 grams of dough and can be used to cook desserts such as citrus scones, apple crumble, raspberry muffins, chocolate fudge cake, and cakes filled with dulce de leche, a caramel popular throughout South America.
'Noble and natural ingredients'
The company said it uses "high-quality" ingredients such as almonds, pistachio, nuts, coconut, and premium chocolate.
“We are committed to clean label food, Tigoût’s CEO, Rodrigo Córdoba, said. “The pastries are without additives and preservatives. They combine the noblest and natural ingredients, enhancing aromas, textures, and flavors.
The company, which has patented its technology, is developing recipes for savory pods that it plans to launch in 2020, as well as a range of gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan desserts.
However, each pod is made from PET plastic that cannot be reused, although Córdoba said it could be recycled. “We are still working on R&D for biodegradable packaging and to be more sustainable in the entire value chain,” he added.
Tigoût CEO: 'This is just the beginning'
The company, which was the only Argentinian firm to showcase a product at CES technology fair in Las Vegas last month, has already enjoyed investment to the tune of around US$1.8 million, most of which was spent on R&D, Córdoba said. It is now seeking a Series A investment of $2.6m.
Inspiration came from domestic espresso coffee machines which, in Argentina alone, saw an 82.46% increase in the first quarter of 2019 compared to 2018, according to a report by market research company Free.
Consumers' kitchens are already full of culinary appliances from toasters to kettles, coffee machines to blenders. What made Córdoba believe there is consumer demand for an Internet of Things (IoT) device to cook mini desserts?
“We have started with dessert because everybody enjoys pastry, but its complexity to make at home [is a barrier]. The Tigoût machine is ready to cook thousands of products,” he told FoodNavigator-LATAM. “This is just the beginning; we facilitate access to high-quality food based on new technologies.”
The startup partnered with Buenos Aires-based design agency Teckdes to develop the machine and pod prototypes in 2018. It also received government support from the National Institute of Industrial Technology (INTI) on the formulation.
Mariana Sánchez, food project coordinator at INTI said: “The company asked us for advice on strategies to increase the shelf life of the product and we suggest marketing frozen capsules, to respond to export requirements. We reach this conclusion after developing sample formulations and conducting microbiological, sensory and functional monitoring of each one.”
Tigoût has already launched a B2B and B2C pilot products in Argentina and is looking to launch in Spain later this year.
