Melt&Marble partners Valio to commercialize fats for plant-based products

FINLAND – Melt&Marble has entered a partnership with Finnish food and dairy company Valio to advance the commercialization of its precision fermentation-based fats. 

The collaboration will see Melt&Marble’s innovative fats integrated into Valio’s food products, aiming to enhance the taste and texture of plant-based alternatives.

The partnership follows Melt&Marble’s successful demo-scale fermentation and a €2.5 million (US$2.7 million) grant from the European Innovation Council last year. 

According to Thomas Cresswell, the company’s Chief Business Officer, the partnership combines Melt&Marble’s expertise in designing sustainable fats with Valio’s strong R&D capabilities and global market presence. 

“Together, we aim to co-develop products, such as next-generation plant-based meat and dairy alternatives, that deliver exceptional taste, texture, and sustainability,” he stated.

Melt&Marble’s designer fats are produced using yeast, which is engineered to convert sugars into fats with properties similar to those of animal fats. 

The technology allows plant-based foods to replicate the creaminess, mouthfeel, and flavor-release qualities of traditional animal-derived fats. 

The company has tested its fats in Valio’s food products, yielding promising results. 

Saara Pöyri, Valio’s Vice President of R&D Food Product Development & Technology, reported that Melt&Marble’s fats mimic the melting and juiciness of animal fats, which could set a new standard in plant-based food innovation.

One of the primary goals of the collaboration is to refine and optimize the inclusion rates of Melt&Marble’s fats in food products. 

The initial testing phase has already demonstrated improvements in the texture, juiciness, and flavor of plant-based meat formulations compared to conventionally used plant-derived fats. 

Cresswell highlighted that the designer fats function as a direct replacement for existing solid fats in these formulations, reducing the need for unsustainable animal and plant sources. 

“Local production plays a crucial role in increasing food security and sustainability by reducing reliance on global supply chains, minimizing transportation emissions, and ensuring a stable, regional food supply,” he noted.

The companies are advancing towards developing prototype products with the goal of accelerating the commercial rollout of Melt&Marble’s tailor-made fats. 

Earlier this month, the company partnered with the EU-funded Delicious project to develop affordable and sustainable plant-based dairy alternatives, including cheese and kefir. 

The initiative seeks to lower environmental impact by up to 30% compared to conventional dairy processes.