VITO wins International FoodTec Award 2027

DLG recognizes the combination of patented microfiltration, automated in-fryer filtration and digital process management. For us, this award is a special confirmation of what we have been working toward for many years: making frying oil management more efficient, more sustainable, safer and at the same time easier to integrate into everyday kitchen operations.

What makes the International FoodTec Award special?

The International FoodTec Award is one of the leading international technology awards in the food industry. It is presented by DLG, the German Agricultural Society, together with specialist and media partners. An independent international jury of experts from science, research and industry evaluates the submitted innovations based on their level of innovation, practical relevance and contribution to greater sustainability and efficiency. For 2027, a total of 16 innovations received a Silver Award and five were honored with Gold. 

Rethinking frying oil management

With the VITO VL, we follow a simple approach: frying oil should be maintained directly where it is used - in the fryer. Instead of transferring hot oil or filtering it manually, the oil is filtered directly at operating temperature. Our patented microfiltration technology removes particles and residues down to 5 µm and works entirely without chemical additives. A complete filtration cycle takes only 4.5 minutes and runs automatically.

In combination with the cloud-based VITOconnect platform, filtration processes can also be recorded, documented and analyzed – both in individual kitchens and across multiple locations. This turns traditional frying oil maintenance into a standardized, measurable and digitally supported process.

The DLG jury particularly highlighted this combination of microfiltration, automation and digital process management. The resulting benefits in terms of sustainability, cost efficiency, workplace safety and process reliability also played an important role in the evaluation.

Less oil. Less waste. More control.

Regular filtration with the VITO VL can extend the usable lifetime of frying oil by up to 100% and reduce oil consumption by up to 50%. For professional kitchens, this can make a significant economic difference. One example: A restaurant operating two 20-liter fryers and changing its oil twice per week uses around 4,160 liters of frying oil per year. At an assumed oil price of €2.10 per liter, reducing oil consumption by 50% could result in potential annual savings of around €4,368 per location.

At the same time, lower oil consumption also means less demand for raw materials, packaging and transportation, as well as less used oil that needs to be disposed of. VITO filtration works entirely mechanically and without chemicals. Biodegradable cellulose-based filter media are used in the process.

Designed for everyday kitchen operations

For us, filtration performance was not the only focus during development. We also asked ourselves: How can the daily handling of frying oil become easier and safer? Because filtration takes place directly inside the fryer, employees do not need to manually transfer or strain hot oil as part of the filtration process. Automated operation reduces handling of hot oil, simplifies daily routines and helps minimize risks in the kitchen. Thanks to its portable design, one VITO VL can also be used across multiple fryers – without permanent installation or structural changes to the kitchen.

“Winning the International FoodTec Award is an important recognition of what we have been working toward for many years: making frying oil management safer, more efficient and more sustainable without making kitchen processes more complicated,” says Andreas Schmidt, CEO of VITO AG. “The combination of filtration technology and digital process control shows that even an everyday process such as frying oil maintenance can become measurable, standardized and significantly more resource-efficient.”

From a filtration system to connected oil management

With VITOconnect, we create greater transparency around filtration routines and oil management across the entire operation. Especially for companies with multiple locations, this creates new opportunities to standardize processes, document data transparently and support consistent product quality. Through API interfaces, VITOconnect can also be integrated into existing digital kitchen and enterprise systems. In this way, hardware, software and process data come together to create a more comprehensive and connected approach to oil management.

International recognition for technology from Tuttlingen

VITO filtration systems are manufactured in Germany and are already used in more than 60,000 applications across over 150 countries worldwide. For us, the International FoodTec Award is therefore more than recognition of a single product. It also confirms our commitment to developing practical solutions for some of the key challenges facing the foodservice industry: rising raw material costs, resource efficiency, process standardization, workplace safety and digitalization.

The official award ceremony will take place as part of Anuga FoodTec 2027 in Cologne.

About the International FoodTec Award

Since 1994, the International FoodTec Award has recognized pioneering developments in food technology in the areas of innovation, sustainability and efficiency. The award is presented every three years by DLG together with specialist and media partners. An international expert jury independently evaluates the submitted innovations based on their level of innovation and practical relevance. Silver Awards are presented to products and developments that achieve a substantial improvement in their function or the underlying process.