Fresco

Fresco is a Dublin-based company that provides software infrastructure for connected cooking. Its offering has two main components: KitchenOS, a cross-brand platform that connects kitchen appliances, recipe content and device logic; and the Fresco AI Cooking Companion, an experience layer that recommends recipes, guides home cooks step by step in real time, and controls and synchronises appliances through screens or voice. A third layer, described by the company as the Connected Kitchen, aggregates appliances, content and cooking activity from multiple brands into a single consumer account.

The platform includes a recipe content management system purpose-built for connected appliances, supporting localisation across 18 languages, instant propagation of content updates to apps and devices, AI-powered Recipe Import that converts unstructured recipes into appliance-ready formats, and Ingredient Presets that let users select an ingredient rather than a full recipe. The company also offers optional content services to help brands expand their recipe libraries.

Appliance brands can adopt Fresco in several configurations: joining Fresco's own cross-brand consumer app, deploying a fully branded app powered by the Fresco platform, or embedding Fresco capabilities into existing apps, screens or infrastructure.

Founding story

The company was founded in 2012 as Drop, initially building a connected smart kitchen scale that was sold through Apple Stores across North America. Ben Harris co-founded the business with Jack Phelan, Jonny McCauley and Tim Redfern and serves as CEO.

Business model

Fresco sells its platform to appliance manufacturers and OEMs rather than directly to consumers, positioning shared infrastructure whose value grows as more brands and devices join the ecosystem. Brands can license the platform through Fresco's cross-brand app, a white-labelled branded app, or embedded integration into their own products, with optional paid content services alongside.

Traction

Fresco reports 12 million-plus recipes explored over three years, a 50% retention rate for connected users after 12 months, an 80% appliance activation rate and support for 18 languages. Panasonic used Fresco to launch its first connected cooking appliance outside Japan.

Latest developments

In December 2025 Fresco announced a €15 million Series C round backed by new investors Sam Dennigan, Barry Napier, Stanley Cheng and Tyler Hu alongside existing investors Middleby, ACT Venture Capital, AE Ventures, Morpheus Ventures and Alsop Louie Partners, with proceeds directed at advancing the AI Cooking Companion and expanding distribution. The company subsequently published announcements on smart appliance security and on a new Recipe Import and guided cooking experience.