The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) has revealed the finalists in its first retail tech innovation programme of 2018 – JLAB
JLP’s first JLAB pitch day of 2018 based on a health and wellbeing theme, whittled down over 100 start-ups and established businesses to a shortlist of 11, who then pitched to a panel of six senior leaders from across the John Lewis Partnership.
Businesses were invited to pitch customer facing, digital propositions which could provide Waitrose customers with advice and inspiration that makes it easier for them to lead healthy lifestyles and eat more healthily. The three businesses selected to now enter the JLAB programme are:
Kafoodle- a food tech business that combines personalised meal planning with dietician dashboards to monitor nutritional needs
OME Health - offers personalised, science based health plans built on a person’s gut microbiome, genetics blood markers and other health data
Best in Bag - an app that helps customers with unique dietary needs to make the right food choices by giving personalised nutritional advice
Expert advice
The three finalists will now have access to expert advice from Waitrose senior leaders as well as product validation from retail experts and customers and possible financial investment.
John Vary, Futurologist at the John Lewis Partnership and one of the pitch day judges, said: “The businesses we’ve selected in the health and wellbeing space are truly innovative and we’re looking forward to helping them make their ideas part of our customers’ experiences. We’re passionate about exploring new concepts that will transform retail and drive creativity.”
