Jow’s bespoke menu app attracts $13M investment for US expansion
Jow, a Parisian grocery shopping and menu recommendation app, has announced the addition of $13 million in a Northzone-led Series A extension financing round. The additional capital will be used to support the company’s US market entry.
Building upon a previously announced, yet uncategorised, Series A round that saw Eurazeo, Stride, Headline, and DST Global pump $20 million into the startup, the $13 million extension welcomes Northzone to the cap table, with existing backers, including Eurazeo, participating.
While the foodtech sector has seen a healthy dose of consolidation in recent months, despite its descriptor, Jow isn’t exactly what you think it is.
It’s not a grocery delivery service, and it’s not a prepared meals deal either. Upon signing up for the service, a host of questions including how many adults, children, and pets are in your household, what your dietary preferences are, any allergy/dislikes, goals, and geographic location, Jow sets to work outlining a bespoke menu.
Since 2017, Jow has amassed a user base of over 6 million across France and partnered with eight of the country’s largest grocery retailers including Carrefour, Auchan and Intermarché.
Now, having dialled in the secret sauce, Jow is taking the show on the road, namely, the United States, where the company says it’s found a particular fit. The company has already established partnerships with retailers including Ralph’s and Kroger.
Jow CEO and co-founder Jacques-Edouard Sabatier elaborates:
“A digital personal shopper, kitchen help, and life coach, Jow helps families eat well, and reduce cost as well as waste. Over 150 million meals have been prepared thanks to Jow, and each typically includes 25 per cent more fresh ingredients and 15 per cent less waste.
“We are extremely proud to offer families a way to eat better, reduce waste, and lighten the mental load of meal preparation.”
On the investment, Northzone partner former co-founder at HelloFresh, Jessica Schultz adds:
”We are super excited to partner with Jacques-Edouard and the whole team at Jow, as we believe they have the potential to become a truly category-defining company within the food space.
“By changing the way consumers think about meal planning and grocery shopping, while at the same time enabling retailers to broaden their distribution, and FMCG companies to become more data-driven, they are approaching this trillion-dollar industry with a novel approach.”
Lead image via Jow
