Microalgae protein start-up, Brevel, has partnered with Israel’s largest beverage company, The Central Bottling Company (CBC Group), to develop and commercialise functional beverages and dairy alternatives.
Brevel’s proprietary technology for cultivating microalgae combines light with sugar fermentation in indoor bioreactors, enabling the efficient production of nutrient-rich microalgae in large quantities, without the need for genetic modification.
The resulting ingredient is a white, neutral tasting powder consisting of 60-70 per cent microalgae protein concentrate. This can be integrated into a range of meat and dairy alternatives, containing functional properties that allow it to replicate the textures, flavors, and behavior of animal proteins.
CBC Group is the franchisor of major global and domestic brands, with a strong presence in the Eastern Europe and South Africa/MENA region. As part of the commercial alliance, CBC Group invested almost US$20 million in Brevel’s last seed-funding round.
Under a 10 year purchase agreement, Brevel will supply CBC with its algae-derived raw ingredients, including extracted protein, functional oils and antioxidants.
Brevel co-founder and CEO, Yonatan Golan, said the co-venture will be instrumental in keeping the company at the forefront of developments in food and climate-tech.
“Our first commercial pilot plant is already primed to meet the first wave of our joint business development goals, delivering great tasting, better-for-you, sustainably sourced products to the growing population of health-conscious consumers,” said Golan.
Brevel recently established a commercial factory in southern Israel, with the capacity to produce hundreds of tons of microalgae protein powder per year.
CBC Group head of innovation, Lihi Rothschild, said: “As we pursue our strategy of continuous innovation to deliver superior products that respond to evolving trends and customer demands, partnering with Brevel is a natural fit.”
“The company’s groundbreaking approach gives us the opportunity to explore new categories and solutions and opens new doors in terms of the range of exciting consumer applications we can offer,” said Rothschild.
