Melt&Marble and Valio partner to advance next-generation food products

Melt&Marble has announced a strategic partnership with Valio, Finland’s largest food and dairy company, to develop next-generation food products using precision fermentation-based fats. The collaboration aims to improve the texture, flavor, and functionality of plant-based alternatives, moving Melt&Marble’s designer fat solutions closer to commercialization.

Melt&Marble will contribute its proprietary designer fats, which mimic the properties of animal fats, while Valio will leverage its expertise in food formulation and product development. The companies will explore how these precision fermentation-derived fats can enhance plant-based applications, offering consumers alternatives that match the melting behavior, juiciness, and sensory experience of conventional animal fats.

“We’re incredibly excited to work with an established and forward-thinking company like Valio,” commented Anastasia Krivoruchko, CEO of Melt&Marble. “This collaboration is a key step forward in our mission to revolutionize the food system by providing high-quality, sustainable fats that offer the same taste and functionality consumers expect from traditional animal fats. By producing fats locally, we’re also strengthening food security and self-sufficiency.”

Valio’s initial testing with Melt&Marble’s fats has yielded promising results, particularly in improving flavor and juiciness in plant-based applications. “Melt&Marble's technology allows for the production of fats that closely mimic the properties of animal fats,” said Saara Pöyri, VP, R&D Food Product Development & Technology at Valio. “We are excited about the opportunities ahead and the potential to set a new standard in plant-based food innovation.”

As the partnership progresses, the companies will work toward scaling up production and developing prototype products in the near term. This collaboration underscores Melt&Marble’s commitment to commercializing its designer fats and advancing sustainable food solutions that are independent of climate and geography.

“This is an exciting step toward delivering breakthrough products to consumers,” added Thomas Cresswell, CBO at Melt&Marble. “By combining our expertise with Valio’s vast experience in product formulation, we’re able to create truly innovative solutions that push the boundaries of what’s possible in food.”