We started as a food lab. Today, we’re something else. A plug & play R&D agency for food that works – in mouth, mind and market.
Nursh is Belgium’s first R&D agency for food
We work with bold brands and ingredient pioneers who believe great taste deserves better science. Because every other business team has an agency: marketing, finance, comms… R&D didn’t. Until now.
We support your R&D with flexible, science-driven firepower
We’re an external innovation partner for companies who want to develop smarter, tastier, more scalable food products – without building a full in-house team. Just like marketing teams work with creative agencies.
We nourish ideas that nourish people.
We feed innovation with curiosity, taste, care and scientific rigour, and grow early-stage concepts into food products that truly work.
We design with flavour, scalability and shelf life in mind.
Our team unites food technologists, scientists, chefs, researchers and strategists in one fluid setup. From insight to ingredient, from whiteboard to shelf. Modular when needed. All-in when it matters.
Taste Tomorrow, Today.
Meet the team
Candela
Food Technologist
As a Food Technologist, Candela makes sure your project flows smoothly from first idea to final result. With roots in beer and strong expertise in fermentation and drinks, she brings structure, curiosity, and taste to every journey. Combining hands-on know-how with a broad perspective, she ensures innovation is not only well designed, but truly works.
Maxime Willems
Founder & CSO
Maxime is the brain (and heart) behind Nursh’s technical backbone, methodology and creative fearlessness. If you want to know what’s possible, without sugarcoating the hard stuff: you want Maxime in the room.
Lotte
Food technologist
Lotte takes every project in hand with confidence — guiding teams and keeping progress on track. As a food technologist, she bridges formulation, product development and quality analysis, always with an eye for sustainability and circular design. With roots in chocolate but curiosity for every category, she makes sure innovation moves from idea to impact.
Emilie Decoutere
Managing Director
Emilie keeps Nursh running day-to-day — but her impact goes far beyond operations. She thrives where strategy meets execution: aligning teams, guiding clients, and making sure every idea moves with clarity and purpose.
Jurgen
Food Technologist
As a Food Technologist, nutritionist, industrial engineer and culinary chef, Jurgen brings a rare mix of science and flavor to every project. With roots in natural sweet and savory taste solutions, he supports companies as a flavourist and food innovator — translating bold ideas into products that are ready for today’s demanding consumers.
Ludovic Depoortere
Strategic Lead & Board Member
At Nursh, Ludovic is the strategic sparring partner in the boardroom. He shapes growth strategies, challenges decisions, opens doors through his international network and supports long-term plays.
Séverine Distave
Strategy Lead & Board Member
Named Marketer of the Year, Séverine combines the sharpness of an engineer with the strategic vision of an MBA. She knows how to turn consumer centricity, sustainability and digital-first thinking into real business impact.
It takes a village to build better food
And we’re in good company.
At Nursh, we collaborate with chefs and bartenders, spar with start-ups, and collaborate with food manufacturers, suppliers, media and institutions.
Our network ranges from North Sea Chefs and Biotope to Flanders’ FOOD, VLAIO, the EU-backed Like A Pro programme, and platforms like Food Inspiration.
It keeps us close to what’s moving — in kitchens, labs, boardrooms and policy circles — and helps us link science with craft, and ideas with reality.