A bowl with algae oil

© Checkerspot

Fermentation

Checkerspot and AAK to Produce Novel, Climate Change-Resistent Oils from Microalgae & Precision Fermentation

California’s Checkerspot and the Swedish company AAK have announced a partnership to develop, scale, and commercially produce novel algae oils for meat alternatives, plant-based food, and personal care products. Checkerspot makes renewable oils using microalgae and precision fermentation for materials and food, and AKK specializes in value-adding vegetable oils for food, confectionery, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. With this initiative, both companies aim to provide a sustainable alternative source of structuring fats and oils that can be manufactured at scale and are resistant to the impacts of climate change. Structuring fats and oils are used for products with healthier nutritional profiles, less fat, and better emulsion capabilities, including alt meat and bakery. Scott Franklin, co-founder & CSO of Checkerspot, shared: “Our team at Checkerspot is able to …

more

© Fora Foods

Investments & Acquisitions

AAK Foodservice Acquires Aquafaba Butter Producer Fora Foods

Leading vegetable oil and fats producer AAK FoodService has acquired Fora Foods. Fora is the company behind ForA:Butter, a plant-based product made with cocoa butter, coconut oil, and coconut cream. The most significant difference between ForA and other vegan butters is its use of aquafaba (the cooking water from chickpeas) as an emulsifier. The company claims that this unusual formulation makes it one of the only products to be a true 1:1 substitute for dairy butter. AAK already manufactures ForA:Butter, making the acquisition a natural next step. Fora Foods was founded in 2018 by Andrew McClure and Aidan Altman. The same year, the company raised $1.4 million from investors such as New Crop Capital and Blue Horizon. Currently, the product (previously known as Faba Butter) …

more