Three years after the launch of a spirulina spread, the Toulouse start-up Hoope has succeeded in attracting large retailers and diversifying its offer with organic biscuits and mueslis incorporating the famous nutrient-rich microalgae. Created in 2018 by two graduates of the Purpan engineering school in Toulouse, specializing in agri-food, this company relies on this food supplement in everyday products.
Its spread is organic, with hazelnuts enriched with spirulina up to 7%, while being vegan, without palm oil, without gluten, without lactose and without additives. Hoope signed its first national agreements this year with certain large retailers, such as Intermarché and Carrefour, giving visibility to its spirulina-based products in more than 1,500 points of sale.
“When we started in 2018, we negotiated individually with each store, which was a huge job, explains Christophe Sovran, founder of Hoope with Alexis Lesly-Veillard. In 2021, we had integrated Carrefour’s purchasing center, distributing our products in 400 stores, which has accelerated our activity by four this year. In addition to our ten references, we have launched two new ranges, always sweet, of crispy muesli and snack biscuit, with spirulina”. The Toulouse company, which now has ten employees, has just raised funds of 500,000 euros which will be used to strengthen its sales team to acquire new markets and develop new products.