Vejle, Denmark

Context

Vejle is a city of 55,000 located in southern Denmark, and Vejle Municipality serves as the local government for an area with a total of 115,000 inhabitants. The municipality is prosperous and experiencing growth. Vejle is a logistics hub and has industrial strongholds in the food production sector and green-tech industries.

Around 20% of all private employment in Vejle is related to food production, encompassing agricultural production, food processing, logistics, specialized storage, and a thriving food service industry, including restaurants, conference centers, and cafes. Related industries, such as food packaging and process equipment, also play an essential role in the local economy.

Vejle has a strong tradition of public-private collaboration, particularly in fostering local innovation ecosystems that align with its industrial strengths. The municipality is deeply committed to advancing the food sector as a key lever for addressing global challenges such as sustainability and climate change.

As part of KISMET, Culinary Institute by Vejle Erhverv, Vejle Municipality, is working closely with Food Organisation of Denmark to explore synergies between the production side of the food sector, local demand, and governance. This collaboration aims to create stronger bonds across the value chain and facilitate a sustainable, plant-rich food transition through innovative approaches to food production, public meals, and consumer engagement.

Why

• Both Culinary Institute by Vejle Erhverv and Food Organisation of Denmark are already working in a food innovation hub with start-ups and more established producers who works circular with plant-based food. In addition, Culinary Institute is working with chefs and food professional and facilitate citizen-oriented activities to promote more plant-rich meals.
• With KISMET we want to work more strategic with these activities to bind it all together and explore further aspects of using our food innovation hub to change food production and food habits, so they become more circular and climate friendly.
• This includes exploring new possibilities of circular food production, supporting existing activities, and developing a strategic framework.

What

The purpose is to use our food innovation hub to increase plant-rich meals by: 

• cooperating with chefs, food and nutrition professionals to create tasteful plant-rich meals.
• supporting local food producers to work circular with plant-based products.
• inspiring locals to eat more plant-rich meals.