Heura Foods expands innovation capabilities with new lab and patents

Heura Foods, a Barcelona-based pioneer in alternative proteins, has inaugurated a state-of-the-art innovation lab in the city’s 22@ technology district. The facility, equipped with advanced tools and expanded space, integrates various scientific disciplines, enabling the company to develop and scale healthy, sustainable food solutions.

The lab represents a significant milestone in Heura’s mission to transform the food system. It supports the company’s efforts to transition from laboratory research to prototype and industrial production, further consolidating Heura’s position as a leader in sustainable food technology in southern Europe.

In addition to plant-based meat, Heura is now focusing on a broader range of food categories. Building on its first patent-pending clean-label technology filed in 2023, the company is working on alternatives in high-consumption categories such as cheese, pasta, and snacks.

These next-generation products aim to set new nutritional standards by replacing additives, modified starches, and saturated fats with plant proteins and healthy lipids. Heura presented the first prototypes of these products in October 2024, signaling a shift toward healthier, more sustainable options that also meet consumer demand for taste and affordability.

Within the next nine months, Heura plans to file six new patents to advance its portfolio further. These patents will form the backbone of innovations designed to reshape 'ultra-processed' categories and align food production with global health and sustainability goals.

Heura’s technological advancements are not limited to its own product line. Through partnerships and licensing, the company aims to scale its impact across the global food industry.

“These new technologies aim to transform current food production methods, but their real strength lies in how effectively they scale and adapt to regional consumer preferences,” commented Marc Coloma, CEO and Co-founder of Heura Foods. “That’s why we are forging partnerships with industry leaders to accelerate a change that no one can drive alone.”

The company’s proprietary Good Rebel Tech platform is at the forefront of this transformation, addressing technological barriers in plant-based food production. By enhancing naturalness, taste, sustainability, and nutritional value, Heura is setting new benchmarks for the industry.

Heura’s leadership in the Spanish market is well established. In 2023, the company secured a 26% share of the plant-based category in Spain while achieving the highest repeat purchase rates in the market. International sales grew by 63%, driven by robust growth in key markets like France, Italy, and the UK.

This growth is underpinned by Heura’s commitment to Mediterranean culinary traditions, which emphasize high nutritional density, exceptional taste, and a positive climate impact.

The new lab and upcoming patents build on the momentum of Heura’s €40 million Series B funding round, closed in February 2024.

The funding has allowed Heura to scale its operations, invest in proprietary technologies, and accelerate international expansion. The company has also introduced additive-free innovations like its 'york-style' deli slices, which have become the top-selling cold-cut alternative in Spain just months after their launch.

“This new chapter will drive us to profitability while allowing us to develop breakthrough technology to tackle the key challenges within the industry in a scalable way,” Coloma said of the funding round at the time.