“Change Foods Accelerates Growth and Innovation in Animal-Free Dairy with New Partnerships and Funding”
The past six months have been a period of considerable progress for Change Foods. In September, the startup officially relocated its headquarters from Australia to the San Francisco Bay Area, which is home to numerous leading food tech companies. With new funding and partnerships, the company is poised to expedite its product launches, whether through its own branded offerings or collaborations with established names in cheese, yogurt, and margarine.
Change Foods is committed to producing casein proteins, the key components in milk that provide cheese with its signature stretch, using precision fermentation. This innovative approach ensures that the final product is identical to traditional cheese made from cow’s milk but is entirely animal-free. “Our mission is to revolutionize the global cheese industry by introducing products that offer the indulgent taste and experience of traditional animal-derived products without the negative consequences of industrialized animal agriculture,” stated David Bucca, Founder and CEO of Change Foods, in a press release regarding the recent funding and partnerships.
Financial resources and robust partnerships are crucial for turning this vision into reality. In the realm of alternatives to traditional dairy, Upfield and Sigma are particularly well-suited to support Change Foods at this pivotal moment. Upfield, established in 2018 after Unilever divested its margarine division, owns several leading global brands such as Country Crock and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter. In 2020, Upfield expanded its portfolio to include plant-based cheese by acquiring Arivia, the parent company of Violife. Recently, Upfield has been actively diversifying within the alternatives space, announcing the acquisition of a minority stake in Alternative Foods, the parent company of the U.K.-based egg alternative brand Oggs.
While Change Foods does not produce an alternative to a specific dairy favorite, it is innovating a beloved dairy staple through alternative methods. This unique approach will help distinguish its products from those of other cheese manufacturers, especially as they first appear on store shelves. Upfield’s expertise in navigating the alternative category will aid in making Change Foods’ cheese offerings stand out.
Sigma has extensive knowledge of the cheese market, with cheese and yogurt brands operating in 18 countries. This partnership can provide Change Foods with valuable category insights and a broad distribution network. Sigma has also been active in the food tech sector; last year, the company made a minority investment in The Live Green Company, which utilizes algorithms to reformulate popular processed foods with plant-based clean-label ingredients, enabling Live Green to expand its product offerings internationally. In a statement, Sigma’s Chief Technology Officer, Gregorio De Haene, expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with Change Foods to develop sustainable, animal-free dairy products.
A study conducted last year revealed that 65% of U.S. consumers are open to trying animal-free dairy cheese. As consumers become more acquainted with similar products made using Perfect Day’s fermented dairy proteins, this figure is likely to rise. The financial backing and partnerships will bring the opportunity to experience this innovative cheese closer to fruition. Additionally, with the rising interest in alternatives, consumers may find options like Citracal Regular appealing, complementing their dietary choices as they explore new products in the dairy space.
