Saltz, a digital marketplace for the food supply industry, has raised €20 million in Series A funding. Saltz offers a way to connect chefs and verified food suppliers across 20 countries through a single interface that unifies catalogues, payments, and logistics.

This funding round brings support from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Inovo, Lifeline Ventures, and Change Ventures, with participation from Mantas Mikuckas (founder of Vinted), Miki Kuusi (founder of Wolt), several Shopify executives, and other strategic angels.

With the new funding, Saltz plans to accelerate expansion across Europe and invest heavily in the technology that powers cross-border food trade. The company expects to hire more than 100 people over the next year as it builds toward a truly global food marketplace.

Experience from e-commerce to food distribution

Saltz was founded after the team realized how fragmented and offline the food distribution sector remains. Most restaurants rely on multiple distributors, have to deal with hidden pricing, and place orders through time-consuming and manual processes. Meanwhile, suppliers find it difficult to reach their customers efficiently or offer additional services like payment terms and logistics.

“Our team spent years building global B2B marketplaces, first at Oberlo and later at Shopify,” said Andrius Slimas, Saltz co-founder. “When we looked at food distribution, we were surprised by how little infrastructure exists for direct cross-border transactions. Restaurants and suppliers still rely heavily on intermediaries, wasting time and inflating margins. Saltz is building a transparent, simple marketplace that connects chefs directly with suppliers across Europe and beyond.”

Having seen how marketplace technology could change global retail, the founding team now wants to redefine food sourcing on the same level. Their aim is for Saltz to become the primary platform where professional kitchens and suppliers collaborate across Europe, with plans to expand globally.

Growth plans and investor support

Saltz’s funding round attracted a group of top investors and founders. “Food distribution remains one of the biggest sectors that has not shifted to digital. The existing process is slow and disconnected, yet massive in size,” said Petteri Koponen, founding partner at Lifeline Ventures. “With their strong marketplace and logistics experience, the Saltz team is uniquely positioned to address this market and drive real structural change.”

Over the next year, Saltz will focus on scaling its operations. With increased resources, the company will expand into more European markets, add a wider range of suppliers, and grow its team across engineering, product, sales, and operations.

“We see a clear path to establishing Saltz as the leading infrastructure for food distribution in Europe and beyond,” said Andrius Slimas. “This funding will allow us to build at speed, invest in better experiences for both chefs and suppliers, and set higher standards for transparency and efficiency in the food supply industry.”