Neuss start-up cooperates with Zentis

Three 15-year-olds founded the fruit bar start-up Moonbar last year and are now welcoming a prominent partner in the form of food giant Zentis.

The founders of Moonbar are 15 years young. The start-up produces vegan and sustainable fruit bars that are attached to a stick, just like ice cream. The Neuss-based company has now signed a cooperation agreement with Zentis, whose Managing Director explains how Moonbar won them over: "The moonbar's ingredients and packaging concept are well thought out and meet the requirements of a modern snack. And the handle makes the bar really distinctive," says Norbert Weichele, Managing Director of Zentis Ventures.

Alina Schrainer, Leon Gilges and Christian Spinnrath founded the start-up during the first lockdown in 2020, when schools were closed. Crowdfunding was used to finance the first bars, which are now available in selected Rewe stores and online. There was a small name change in June of this year: the previous name Immunbar became the current Moonbar.

And the three founders have big plans: "We want our project to be a domino that changes things in the food industry and makes both sustainable and fair production mainstream," says Gilges. And is looking forward to the cooperation with Zentis: "Both sides will benefit from our future collaboration - because we don't just want to achieve something, we also want to make a difference."

Moonbar will also be on TV on September 12, when the start-up takes part in the TV show "Germany's Tastiest Idea" (VOX). Start-ups will compete in five duels and have to win over test eaters. The prize is the placement of the product in Rewe stores throughout Germany.

Zentis has been dedicated to various fruit preparations since 1893, especially sweet preparations such as jams and sweets.