Superbrewed and Döhler take SB1 to commercial scale as strategic investment fuels global push

Superbrewed Food has moved into commercial production of its SB1 protein through a new manufacturing partnership with global ingredient group Döhler, marking what the company described as the first commercial-scale output of an FDA-reviewed GRAS postbiotic protein.

• Döhler has begun commercial-scale production of Superbrewed’s SB1 at a European facility following an FDA ‘no questions’ letter.
• Döhler Ventures has made a strategic investment in Superbrewed to support global expansion of SB1.
• Initial commercial volumes have begun shipping into premium sports and lifestyle nutrition applications in the USA.

The Delaware-based nutrition company announced that SB1 is now being manufactured at a Döhler production site in Europe, leveraging the German group’s global infrastructure and quality systems. Döhler Ventures, the venture and innovation arm of Döhler Group, has also taken a strategic stake in Superbrewed as part of the collaboration.

The development signals Superbrewed’s shift from pilot and development phases into its first stage of commercial manufacturing, with initial volumes already entering the US market in premium sports and lifestyle nutrition products.

Bryan Tracy, CEO of Superbrewed Food, said the partnership marked a significant inflection point for the business. “Establishing commercial production with Döhler is a defining step for Superbrewed,” he said. “Döhler’s global manufacturing platform and commercialization capabilities position SB1 to scale efficiently and meet accelerating demand for high-quality protein.”

SB1 is described by the company as a fermentation-derived postbiotic cultured protein, produced through an anaerobic fermentation process using microflora native to the human microbiome. Unlike isolated protein ingredients, SB1 is marketed as a whole-food protein that delivers meaningful levels of naturally occurring B-vitamins and essential minerals alongside its protein content. According to Superbrewed, this profile enables structure and function claims in finished products.

The ingredient is also allergen-free, non-GMO and vegan, attributes that align with current clean-label and plant-based formulation trends across sports nutrition, functional foods and broader health applications.

The commercial rollout comes at a time when protein demand is being reshaped by wider shifts in consumer behavior. Superbrewed pointed to increasing interest in sugar reduction and protein-rich diets, alongside the influence of GLP-1 medications and broader wellness trends that are altering purchasing patterns. Its platform converts sugar into SB1, a positioning that connects existing sugar supply chains with demand for higher-value protein ingredients.

For Döhler, the agreement brings a new fermentation-enabled protein into its global ingredient portfolio. The company operates more than 45 production sites and serves customers in over 160 countries, with a workforce of more than 9,500 employees, including 1,000 in research and development.

Rodrigo Hortega de Velasco, Managing Partner at Döhler Ventures, said the investment reflected confidence in the ingredient’s differentiation. “Superbrewed’s SB1 represents a differentiated innovation in the evolving protein landscape,” he said. “Through commercial manufacturing and strategic investment, we are committed to supporting SB1 as it scales globally.”

The collaboration pairs Superbrewed’s fermentation platform with Döhler’s established manufacturing base and market access. SB1 is now being produced at commercial scale in Europe, with the companies indicating plans to expand capacity and advance broader commercialization efforts in 2027.

Superbrewed has focused its strategy on developing natural ingredients through fermentation, emphasizing nutritional and functional performance. Its SB1 product is designed to be versatile across food and nutrition applications, from beverages and bars to powdered supplements and formulated products requiring protein fortification without common allergens.

Döhler, for its part, has built its business around natural ingredients, ingredient systems and integrated solutions for the global food, beverage and nutrition industries. Its portfolio spans natural flavors, colors, health ingredients and plant-based systems, supported by in-house capabilities in sensory science, food safety and microbiology.

The decision by Döhler Ventures to invest directly in Superbrewed underscores a broader trend of large ingredient and food groups backing early-stage or emerging technologies through dedicated venture units. With more than 85 active ventures, Döhler Ventures operates as the group’s vehicle for partnering with companies developing technologies seen as shaping the future of nutrition.

While financial terms of the investment were not disclosed, the strategic stake aligns the two companies beyond a standard supply agreement. By combining manufacturing, commercialization and capital support, the partnership aims to accelerate SB1’s market penetration in the United States and, over time, other regions.

For Superbrewed, the move to commercial-scale production follows its receipt of an FDA “no questions” letter for SB1, confirming the agency had no further questions regarding the company’s conclusion that the ingredient is Generally Recognized as Safe under its intended conditions of use. That regulatory milestone cleared the path for broader commercialization in the US market.

Initial shipments into sports and lifestyle nutrition applications suggest a phased market entry strategy, targeting segments that typically adopt novel protein ingredients earlier than mainstream food categories. With Döhler’s global footprint, the companies are now positioned to scale volumes as demand develops.

As fermentation technologies continue to expand beyond traditional applications into novel proteins and functional ingredients, partnerships between technology developers and established ingredient manufacturers are becoming a key route to market. In this case, Superbrewed has secured both production capacity and strategic backing from a multinational supplier with established customer relationships across food and nutrition sectors.

The next stage will focus on ramping production and extending SB1’s reach into additional applications and geographies. With commercial output underway and investment secured, Superbrewed has entered a new phase in its effort to establish postbiotic cultured protein as a scalable component of the global protein mix.