Zur Mühlen Gruppe (ZMG), a leading German producer of sausages and plant-based alternatives, has made its first ever investment in an alternative protein startup.
The company has provided funding to Berlin-based Nosh.bio, which produces nutrient-rich products using fermentation technology and koji mushrooms. The resulting proteins can be used to make meat and fish alternatives, sauces, confectionery, pet food, and more.
Following the investment, ZMG will use koji mushrooms to produce a new range of protein-rich meat-free products. The first to be developed are “koji strips”, which can be fried or used in salads. While this is ZMG’s first alt protein investment, the company has been expanding its presence in the plant-based sector for several years under the brand names Gutfried, Vevia 4 You, and Es schmeckt.
“The investment in the Berlin start-up Nosh fits perfectly into our alternative protein strategy,” says ZMG Managing Director Axel Knau.
“We won’t be able to change the world alone”
Nosh.bio is on the cusp of beginning large-scale production at its new plant near Dresden, Germany, located on the site of a former brewery. By retrofitting existing infrastructure, the startup has been able to scale up its production more quickly. The plant will eventually produce thousands of tons of mycoprotein annually.
Nosh also reported earlier this year that its mycoprotein would reach price parity with poultry in 2025. The ingredient is said to provide an umami taste with no aftertaste and a neutral color, removing the need for additives or binders.
“As a small start-up, we won’t be able to change the world alone. We need strong partners who place our product successfully and permanently on the market. With its sales strength and decades of experience as a food manufacturer, Zur Mühlen Group is such a partner,” says Tim Fronzek, co-founder and CEO of Nosh.
