Hier Foods

High-Level Overview

Hier Foods is a Berlin-based startup founded in 2020 that builds a digital infrastructure platform connecting local food suppliers with retailers, both digital and brick-and-mortar, to streamline procurement and enable decentralized supply chains.[1][2][3] It serves small-scale producers lacking digital tools and retailers seeking diverse local products, solving inefficiencies in local food trade—like fragmented communications, outdated processes, and food waste—that limit access to high-quality, sustainable goods.[1][2] The company raised €7 million in a 2021 seed round led by Collaborative Fund, with participation from Pale Blue Dot, Speedinvest, Amplifier Labs, A* Capital, and angels including GitHub co-founder Scott Chacon and Flickr co-founder Caterina Fake, fueling European expansion and hiring.[1][2]

Origin Story

Lara Hämmerle (CEO) and Mark Jäger co-founded Hier Foods in 2020 after identifying deep inefficiencies in local food retail supply chains during their research.[1][2] Hämmerle noted that retailers stock far fewer exceptional local products than possible due to poor supplier-retailer relationships, while Jäger emphasized building resilient, decentralized systems less vulnerable to global disruptions.[1][2] Early traction came from spotting gaps for small suppliers—lacking networks, standards compliance, and digital integration—leading to a platform that integrates existing systems for seamless buying and selling.[2] The 2021 €7M seed round marked a pivotal moment, attracting top investors and validating their vision for sustainable local sourcing.[1][2]

Core Differentiators

• Seamless Integrations for Frictionless Trade: Provides easy-to-use infrastructure linking suppliers' and retailers' systems, enabling direct procurement without overhauling processes—addressing varying digitalization levels among small producers.[2]
• Focus on Decentralization and Sustainability: Creates alternatives to global chains by digitizing local supply, reducing waste, boosting product diversity, and enhancing resilience to shocks like supply disruptions.[1][2][3]
• Investor Backing and Expertise: Supported by climate-tech VCs (Pale Blue Dot), SaaS specialists (Speedinvest), logistics experts (Amplifier Labs), and notable angels, providing strong networks in foodtech and supply chain innovation.[1][2]
• User-Centric Efficiency: Simplifies procurement to get more local, high-quality goods into retail, tackling root causes of inefficiency identified by founders.[1]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Hier Foods rides the foodtech trend toward decentralized, sustainable supply chains amid rising demand for local sourcing, driven by climate concerns, food waste reduction, and vulnerability to global events like pandemics or trade shocks.[1][2] Timing aligns with Europe's agrifood tech boom—evident in funding for peers like fungal protein (Kynda, €3M in 2025) and cultivated seafood (BLUU, €16M in 2023)—where digital tools bridge traditional agriculture with modern retail.[4] Market forces favoring Hier include regulatory pushes for sustainability, consumer preference for diverse local products, and inefficiencies in legacy chains, positioning it to influence ecosystems by empowering small suppliers and diversifying retail offerings across Europe.[1][2][4]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Hier Foods is poised to scale its platform across Europe, leveraging seed capital for aggressive growth in user adoption and integrations amid foodtech's maturation.[2] Trends like AI-driven supply optimization, stricter ESG mandates, and localized food systems post-global disruptions will accelerate its momentum, potentially expanding into adjacent areas like traceability or B2C direct trade.[1][3][4] As it evolves, Hier could reshape urban food ecosystems, amplifying small producers' reach and reducing waste—echoing its founding mission to unlock more local products in everyday retail.[1][2]