The Protein Brewery
The Protein Brewery is a Dutch fermentation company that produces Fermotein, a mycoprotein ingredient made from fungal mycelium, selling B2B to food manufacturers and private-label customers for dairy alternatives, active nutrition, longevity, and better-for-you foods.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersBreda, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What The Protein Brewery does
The Protein Brewery is a Dutch fermentation-based food ingredients company founded in 2019 and headquartered in Breda, Netherlands. It develops and produces Fermotein®, a single, hero mycoprotein ingredient grown via continuous fermentation of fungal mycelium. Fermotein is positioned as a nutrient-dense whole-food ingredient containing 50% complete protein (PDCAAS 1.0), 30% prebiotic fibers (chitin/chitosan), and the fungal bioactives spermidine (1,600 mg/kg) and choline (3,600 mg/kg), with Kosher, Gluten-free, Carb-free, Non-GMO, and Vegan certifications. Production is described as less capital intensive than competing alternative protein methods, and is reported to yield 26 times more protein per unit of land than beef while generating only 3% of beef's emissions.
The company operates a B2B ingredient sales motion, selling Fermotein to food manufacturers and private-label customers for use in dairy alternatives, active nutrition, longevity products, and better-for-you foods. Distribution is via direct sales, supplemented by trade show presence (e.g., PLMA International Council) and earned media in agrifoodtech publications. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with multi-year B2B contracts as the billing cadence. Manufacturing is centered on a pilot/demo facility in the Mijijkenbroek area of the Netherlands, with planned supply of 600 metric tons in 2027 scaling to over 2,000 metric tons by 2029, and a future larger Dutch demo factory intended to anchor European, US, Singapore, and UK distribution following regulatory clearances.
The Protein Brewery is privately held and venture-backed. It raised a €30 million Series B in October 2025 (led by Invest-NL and Brabant Development Agency alongside Novo Holdings, Unovis Asset Management, and Madeli), received an EU LIFE Programme grant in December 2025, and secured European Commission approval for Fermotein in June 2026 — the first novel mycelium-based food authorized for sale in the EU, following a positive EFSA opinion and Standing Committee vote. The company had previously been approved in the US and Singapore, and is pursuing UK approval. Commercial launch of Fermotein is targeted for Q3 2026. The company was recognized in the 2026 THRIVE FoodTech Top 50 under the Novel Ingredients category.
The Protein Brewery firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Protein Brewery
- Legal name
- The Protein Brewery
- Website
- https://theproteinbrewery.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Protein Brewery is a Dutch fermentation company that produces Fermotein, a mycoprotein ingredient made from fungal mycelium, selling B2B to food manufacturers and private-label customers for dairy alternatives, active nutrition, longevity, and better-for-you foods.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Protein Brewery industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Alternative Protein Ingredients
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mycoprotein & Fungal Proteins (Fusarium/Mycelium-Based) (AFAJAHAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fermentation-Derived Alternative Proteins Manufacturing (Precision Fermentation) (AFAKAGAH), Fermentation-Derived Proteins (Precision Fermentation, Biomass Fermentation) (AFAJAHAH)
Keywords
Where The Protein Brewery is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Breda
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
The Protein Brewery business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Fermotein Ingredient Sales: B2B sales of Fermotein mycoprotein ingredient to food manufacturers for use in dairy alternatives, active nutrition, and better-for-you foods. Revenue from ingredient sales to food processing companies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | B2B ingredient pricing - quotes provided upon inquiry |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
The Protein Brewery product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Protein Brewery develops and produces Fermotein®, a mycoprotein (fungi-based protein) ingredient manufactured through proprietary fermentation of fungal mycelium. The company sells this novel protein ingredient to food manufacturers for incorporation into plant-based and protein-enriched food products.
Product overview
The Protein Brewery is a Dutch food ingredients company specializing in fungi-based proteins produced through fermentation. The company's single product offering is Fermotein®, a mycoprotein ingredient that serves as a nutrient-dense whole-food protein source. The product targets active nutrition, longevity, nutraceuticals, and dairy alternative applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Fermotein®: The company's hero ingredient, a nutrient-dense mycoprotein powder rich in complete protein, prebiotic fiber, micronutrients, and unique fungal bioactives, grown for active nutrition, longevity, better-for-you foods, and dairy alternatives.
Products and services
- Fermotein®
Quantifiable outcome
- 26 times more protein per unit of land compared to beef
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use The Protein Brewery
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
The Protein Brewery technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Protein Brewery partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)minorParticipation in FAO Acceleration Zone event on Innovative Fermentation to discuss fermentation's role in food systems transformation alongside industry and academic experts.
- Wageningen University and ResearchminorAcademic partner sharing insights on fermentation technology opportunities and challenges at FAO-organized event.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
The Protein Brewery competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Quorn Foods: Quorn is the established global leader in mycoprotein-based foods, using Fusarium venenatum fermentation to produce meat alternative products. It is the most direct competitor to The Protein Brewery in the mycoprotein category, though it operates more as a consumer B2C brand than a B2B ingredient supplier.
- Nature's Fynd: Nature's Fynd produces Fy, a fungal protein from a strain originally found in Yellowstone, targeting dairy alternatives, meats, and beverages. It is a direct peer in fermentation-derived fungal protein ingredients for B2B applications.
- Meati Foods: Meati produces whole-cut protein products from mycelium using a similar fungal fermentation approach. It overlaps with The Protein Brewery on the underlying technology platform and competes for the same active nutrition and better-for-you end markets.
- Better Meat Co. Better Meat Co. produces Rhiza, a mycelium-based whole food protein for B2B food manufacturers. It is a direct competitor in the fungal protein B2B ingredient space targeting meat hybrid and dairy alternative formulations.
- MyForest Foods: MyForest Foods (formerly MyCoTechnology spin-off Ecovative's food arm) produces mycelium-based meat alternatives using solid-state fermentation. It directly competes with The Protein Brewery on fungal mycelium technology for protein ingredients.
- MycoTechnology: MycoTechnology uses fungal fermentation to produce food ingredients including protein and flavor solutions for B2B customers. It is a direct peer in fermentation-derived functional food ingredients with overlapping customer segments in food manufacturing.
Emerging players
- Air Protein: Air Protein produces single-cell protein using gas fermentation (hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria), creating air-based meat alternatives. It uses a different microbial platform but is comparable as a fermentation-derived alternative protein company serving B2B food manufacturers.
- Solar Foods: Solar Foods produces Solein, a protein ingredient via gas fermentation using electricity and CO2. It is comparable to The Protein Brewery as a precision fermentation-derived protein ingredient company with a novel regulatory pathway.
Broad incumbents
- Perfect Day: Perfect Day produces animal-free dairy proteins (whey and casein) via precision fermentation as a B2B ingredient supplier. It shares the fermentation-derived B2B ingredient model with The Protein Brewery but targets dairy proteins rather than mycoprotein.
- Roquette: Roquette is a global plant-based ingredient manufacturer with a venture arm (Roquette Ventures) that previously invested in The Protein Brewery. It is a comparable broad incumbent in food ingredient manufacturing and a potential channel partner or competitor for plant and alternative proteins.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Protein Brewery social profiles
Digital presenceThe Protein Brewery compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
The Protein Brewery financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Protein Brewery leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Protein Brewery funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Protein Brewery M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Protein Brewery
What does The Protein Brewery do?
The Protein Brewery develops and produces Fermotein®, a mycoprotein (fungi-based protein) ingredient manufactured through proprietary fermentation of fungal mycelium. The company sells this novel protein ingredient to food manufacturers for incorporation into plant-based and protein-enriched food products.
Is The Protein Brewery a public or private company?
The Protein Brewery is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was The Protein Brewery founded?
The Protein Brewery was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Protein Brewery based?
The Protein Brewery is headquartered in Breda, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does The Protein Brewery make money?
One revenue line is on record: fermotein Ingredient Sales.
Who are The Protein Brewery's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Quorn Foods, Nature's Fynd, Meati Foods, Better Meat Co., MyForest Foods and MycoTechnology. Emerging players are Air Protein and Solar Foods. Broad incumbents are Perfect Day and Roquette.
Does The Protein Brewery have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Protein Brewery.
What industry is The Protein Brewery in?
The Protein Brewery's product category is Alternative Protein Ingredients. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAJAHAE, Mycoprotein & Fungal Proteins (Fusarium/Mycelium-Based), with a secondary code of AFAKAGAH, Fermentation-Derived Alternative Proteins Manufacturing (Precision Fermentation).