About AKOUA

We unlock the potential of the cashew fruit for the food & beverage industry.

Every year, millions of tonnes of cashew fruits remain unused worldwide. AKOUA unlocks this potential for the food & beverage industry for the first time – creating new opportunities for innovation, additional value creation and a more sustainable use of existing resources.

Our team

AKOUA unites a German-Beninese team, connecting the origin of the cashew fruit in West Africa with the innovative strength of the European food & beverage industry.

Simon Debade

Founder & CEO

Simon Debade comes from Benin and knows the potential of the cashew fruit from first-hand experience. After studying computer science and building his career in Germany, he set out to create a bridge between his home country and the European food industry.

With AKOUA, he pursues the vision of establishing the cashew fruit as a new ingredient for innovative food & beverage products.

To this end, he builds long-term partnerships with producers and processors in West Africa, secures direct access to the raw material and is responsible for building a transparent, sustainable and scalable supply chain.

In doing so, he combines local value creation with a reliable raw-material supply for international markets.

Hila Attaie

Co-Founder & CTO

Hila Attaie is a food engineer who knows the requirements of the food industry from more than 20 years of experience in research, development, innovation and quality assurance – from international corporations and mid-sized companies to start-ups.

Her vision is to create smarter solutions for the products, processes and business models of the food industry.

At AKOUA, she is responsible for developing and processing the cashew fruit into high-quality ingredients for the food and beverage industry.

She combines scientific expertise, market understanding and innovative strength to develop innovative product concepts and ensure the highest international food standards.

Our mission

Our mission is to make the cashew fruit usable as a functional ingredient for the food & beverage industry. Together with our partners in West Africa, we unlock a previously unused raw material and create new potential for innovative products, additional value creation and a more sustainable use of existing resources.

Our impact

Stainless-steel tanks in a modern food production facility

Image: AI-edited

For the industry

We create new opportunities for differentiation.

The food & beverage industry is looking for natural ingredients that offer more than pure functionality.

With the cashew fruit, AKOUA combines functionality, sensory appeal and story in one functional ingredient of natural origin. The result: products with profile that differentiate brands and delight consumers.

Women of the cooperative together with Simon Debade under cashew trees in Benin

For the people

We create a new value chain.

The cashew fruit creates additional value for the people on the ground. While farmers focus on growing and harvesting the cashew kernels, women in local cooperatives collect the cashew fruits. AKOUA buys the fruit directly from the cooperatives, creating additional income opportunities and long-term partnerships in West Africa.

Aerial view of a cashew plantation in West Africa

Image: AI-generated

For the environment

We unlock a previously unused raw material.

Every year, around 40 million tonnes of cashew fruits remain unused worldwide – about 20 million tonnes of them in West Africa. For decades, the cashew kernel was the sole focus of value creation. With modern processing, AKOUA makes the cashew fruit available for professional food & beverage applications for the first time, unlocking a previously unused raw material for high-quality food and beverages.

Together with our partners, we shape the future of innovative ingredients from previously unused resources.

Press & Award

„Die Cashew wird veräppelt“

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ)

As seen in

FAZ
Die Höhle der Löwen (VOX)
Vegconomist
Sweet Processing
GQ
Haufe

Winner of the Food Innovation Award – Fi Europe Startup Challenge 2024, category “Most Innovative Sustainable Solution”

AKOUA. Two locations. One mission.

Benin

Direct access to the cashew fruit
Partnerships with cooperatives
Primary processing
Local value creation

Germany

Food technology
Research & development
Innovation & product concepts
Food & beverage industry

Together, we connect the origin of the cashew fruit with the requirements of the international food & beverage industry.

Get to know us.

Get in touch