CarobWay partners with GRA Nutra to bring carob-based prebiotic fiber CarobBiome to the USA

Bioactive ingredients innovator CarobWay has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Delaware-based GRA Nutra Corp to introduce its carob-based functional ingredients to the US market. The company’s first commercial product, CarobBiome, will launch in 2026, marking CarobWay’s debut in North America.

CarobBiome is a natural prebiotic fiber derived from the carob fruit that supports digestive comfort, enhances satiety, and promotes metabolic health. The ingredient can be incorporated into functional foods, beverages, and dietary supplements.

“CarobBiome addresses two everyday consumer concerns, digestive comfort and metabolic support,” commented Udi Alroy, Co-founder & CEO of CarobWay. “It was designed to be gut-friendly, label-friendly, and highly functional.”

The partnership represents a milestone for CarobWay, a vertically integrated company that cultivates, processes, and develops specialty carob ingredients. Working with GRA Nutra, a well-established developer and distributor of natural ingredients, will enable the company to scale production and bring its full product portfolio to North American customers.

“By integrating CarobWay’s responsibly produced, high-quality, carob-based ingredients into GRA Nutra’s North American portfolio, we enhance the value we can deliver to our customers across the functional food, beverage, and supplement industries,” said Lynda Doyle, CEO of GRA Nutra Corp. “I have known CarobWay’s co-founders, Udi Alroy and Guido Schaer, for many years, and they have a long history of bringing top-tier natural products to market. This collaboration underscores our shared vision for a more sustainable future.”

CarobBiome is a clean-label ingredient made from upcycled carob pulp using only water and heat in a proprietary extraction process. The result is a neutral-flavored, heat-stable prebiotic fiber suitable for a wide range of applications, including snacks, baked goods, shakes, and meal replacements. It is vegan, allergen-free, non-GMO, and free from bitterness or off-flavors, allowing seamless integration into reformulated products.

Containing 85% total fiber, CarobBiome combines both soluble and insoluble fractions for comprehensive gut and metabolic benefits. The insoluble portion supports gastrointestinal regularity and reduces bloating, while the soluble portion nourishes beneficial gut microbes and provides naturally occurring polyphenols. These prebiotic fibers encourage the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which play a role in improving gut barrier function, blood glucose management, satiety, and weight control.

The launch comes as fiber and prebiotics experience renewed attention in the functional food sector. According to Innova Market Insights, one in three Americans have adjusted their diets for weight loss, while prebiotics are gaining popularity as multifunctional ingredients that add fiber, reduce sugar, and replace fat.

CarobWay’s broader mission is to reintroduce the carob tree – often referred to as an ancient Biblical superfruit – to modern food and nutrition markets. The company highlights carob’s natural abundance of polyphenols, D-pinitol (a bioactive compound linked to blood sugar regulation), and essential vitamins and minerals.

Beyond human health benefits, carob also aligns with growing environmental priorities. The tree is drought-resilient, thrives on marginal lands, and supports long-term soil health through carbon sequestration. Every part of the fruit is used, giving CarobBiome a zero-waste production footprint.

“We are at the intersection of three fast-rising megatrends shaping the food-as-medicine movement,” said Alroy. “CarobBiome is powerful yet gentle on digestion, suitable for people of all ages, and relevant across multiple health categories including metabolic wellness, gut health, sports nutrition, and weight management. This partnership with GRA Nutra will be instrumental in bringing our carob-powered portfolio into the US functional food and supplement markets.”

CarobWay said its production capacity is already prepared to scale ahead of CarobBiome’s 2026 commercial launch, with additional carob-based functional ingredients in the pipeline for North America.