Fiberstar
Fiberstar is a private biotechnology company that manufactures and sells natural citrus fiber ingredients (Citri-Fi) to food and beverage manufacturers globally, using a patented chemical-free process to upcycle citrus juicing byproducts into functional, clean-label ingredients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersRiver Falls, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Fiberstar does
Fiberstar, Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company founded in 1998 and headquartered in River Falls, Wisconsin, that manufactures and sells natural citrus fiber ingredients under the Citri-Fi brand to food and beverage manufacturers worldwide. The company operates manufacturing facilities in Wisconsin and Florida, holds 27 issued patents with 15 pending applications, and carries a broad stack of food-safety and clean-label certifications including FSSC 22000, GRAS, USDA Organic, EU Organic, Non-GMO Project, Halal, Kosher, and SEDEX. Leadership consists of President and CEO John Haen, CFO Vince Fusco, VP of Global Sales Nick Kovalenko, VP of U.S. Sales Dan O'Connell, and Director of R&D Dr. Shuai Li, Ph.D.
Fiberstar's core technology is a patented physical process that is free from chemical modifications and converts citrus juicing byproduct into a high-surface-area fiber with dual water-holding (9-10x its weight in water) and emulsification (binds up to 3x its weight in oil) functionality at usage levels under 1%. The product portfolio spans the Citri-Fi 100 series (the flagship), 200 series (blended with guar gum), 300 series (blended with xanthan gum), 400 series (USDA and EU organic certified), 600 series, and Citri-Fi Pro (a specialized acacia gum alternative for beverage emulsions positioned as 50x more efficient than gum arabic).
The company monetizes through B2B ingredient sales on a quote-based model, combining direct enterprise field sales for large food manufacturers with a network of more than 59 distributors reaching over 69 countries, supplemented by a BigCommerce online storefront for smaller orders and sample requests. End-use applications span bakery, beverages, dairy, dairy alternatives, dressings/soups/sauces, frozen foods, processed meats, plant-based meats, pet food, and supplements/nutrition, where Citri-Fi is positioned as a clean-label replacement for eggs, fats, phosphates, methylcellulose, gellan gum, and other hydrocolloids.
Fiberstar firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fiberstar
- Legal name
- Fiberstar, Inc.
- Website
- https://fiberstar.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Fiberstar is a private biotechnology company that manufactures and sells natural citrus fiber ingredients (Citri-Fi) to food and beverage manufacturers globally, using a patented chemical-free process to upcycle citrus juicing byproducts into functional, clean-label ingredients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fiberstar industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Functional Food Ingredients
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fiber & Inulin Texturizers (Soluble Fibers, Inulin/Oligofructose) (AFAJAMAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Byproduct & Co-Product Processing (Pomace Valorization, Fiber, Extracts, Animal Feed) (AFAKAFAK), Flavor Bases & Emulsions (Citrus oils, beverage emulsions, clouding agents) (AFAFAGAE)
Keywords
Where Fiberstar is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- River Falls
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Fiberstar business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Citri-Fi Ingredient Sales: Fiberstar manufactures and sells natural citrus fiber ingredients (Citri-Fi product line) to food and beverage manufacturers. Products are sold directly through sales team and through global distributor network. Also available via online shop for smaller orders and sample requests.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | B2B ingredient sales via direct sales team |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Fiberstar product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fiberstar manufactures and sells the Citri-Fi line of natural citrus fiber ingredients produced from citrus juicing byproduct through a patented chemical-free physical process. The fibers deliver dual functionality — high water-holding (9-10x weight) and emulsification (binds 3x weight in oil) — at usage levels under 1%, and are sold to food and beverage manufacturers across bakery, beverages, dairy, dressings, frozen foods, processed meats, plant-based meats, pet food, and supplements applications.
Product overview
Fiberstar, Inc. manufactures and sells Citri-Fi natural citrus fiber ingredients, a portfolio of clean label, plant-based food ingredients produced from byproduct of the citrus juicing industry. The product line includes the flagship Citri-Fi 100 series (standard citrus fiber), 200 series (with guar gum), 300 series (with xanthan gum), 400 series (organic certified), and 600 series, all differentiated by particle size. The company also offers Citri-Fi Pro as a specialized acacia gum alternative for beverages. All products utilize a patented physical process free from chemical modifications that creates high surface area, providing dual functionality of water holding and emulsification properties at low usage levels (<1%). The portfolio serves bakery, beverages, dairy, dressings, frozen foods, processed meats, pet foods, plant-based meats, and supplements applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Citri-Fi: Natural citrus fiber product line used in food and beverage applications including bakery, beverages, dairy, dressings, dairy alternatives, frozen foods, processed meats, pet foods, plant-based meats and sauces. Citri-Fi provides high water holding and emulsification properties.
- Citri-Fi Pro
- Citri-Fi 400 Series
Products and services
- Citri-Fi 100 Series Natural citrus fiber flagship product line from Fiberstar, made from citrus juicing byproduct using a patented chemical-free process, providing high water-holding (9-10x weight) and emulsification (binds 3x oil weight) properties at less than 1% usage for food and beverage manufacturers.
- Citri-Fi 200 Series Citri-Fi citrus fiber combined with guar gum, available in 30 mesh and 100 mesh variants, providing enhanced water-holding and emulsification for processed meats, bakery, and dairy product applications.
- Citri-Fi 300 Series Citri-Fi citrus fiber combined with xanthan gum, available in 100 mesh and 200 mesh variants, designed for applications needing enhanced stability and texture modification in sauces, dressings, and dairy alternative formulations.
- Citri-Fi 400 Series (Organic) USDA and European Union certified organic Citri-Fi citrus fiber available in 30 mesh, 100 mesh, and 200 mesh variants, providing dual water holding and emulsification functionality at less than 1% usage to meet organic certification requirements for food and beverage manufacturers.
- Citri-Fi 600 Series Citri-Fi citrus fiber product line differentiated by particle size into 30 mesh, 100 mesh, and 200 mesh variants, providing water-holding (9-10x weight) and emulsification (3x oil weight) properties for food and beverage formulations.
- Citri-Fi Pro Citrus Fiber Specialized natural citrus fiber from Fiberstar designed as an acacia gum (gum arabic) alternative for beverage emulsions, capable of replacing up to 75% of acacia gum or modified food starch at claimed 50x efficiency, for carbonated sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks, and flavored sparkling waters; addresses supply chain risks tied to Sudanese acacia gum sourcing.
Quantifiable outcome
- 50x more efficient than gum arabic and modified food starch in beverage emulsions
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Fiberstar
Customer profileSegments10 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Fiberstar technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Fiberstar partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Citrus Juicing ProcessorscoreFiberstar sources raw material (citrus peel fiber) from citrus juicing industry as upcycled byproduct. Suppliers reuse water throughout their process and are certified in Rainforest Alliance, GLOBAL G.A.P, SAI-Farm, etc.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Fiberstar competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Ingredion: Global major ingredient supplier offering starches, sweeteners, and texturizers across food and beverage. Overlaps with Fiberstar in clean-label texturizers and gum/starch replacement, but as part of a much broader portfolio rather than citrus fiber specialization.
- Cargill: Global agricultural and food ingredient giant with broad texturizer, stabilizer, and cocoa portfolios. Indirect but significant competitor through its hydrocolloid and natural ingredient offerings that overlap with Citri-Fi use cases.
- ADM (Archer Daniels Midland):
Direct peers
- Tate & Lyle: Specialty food ingredients company focused on texturants, hydrocolloids, sweeteners, and clean-label solutions. Directly comparable to Fiberstar in providing functional hydrocolloid ingredients that replace gums, starches, and emulsifiers in bakery, beverages, and dairy applications.
- CP Kelco: Leading global manufacturer of pectin, gellan gum, xanthan gum, and other nature-based hydrocolloids. A direct peer in pectin-adjacent texturants that compete head-to-head with Citri-Fi in beverages, dairy, and bakery applications.
- Nexira: World's leading supplier of acacia gum (gum arabic), the very ingredient Citri-Fi Pro is designed to replace. Direct head-to-head competitor in beverage emulsification and clouding applications.
- Herbstreith & Fox: Specialized pectin and fiber manufacturer serving the food industry. Directly comparable to Fiberstar as a niche, technology-driven player in fruit-derived texturants and fibers used across bakery, beverages, and dairy.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Fiberstar social profiles
Digital presenceFiberstar compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Fiberstar financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fiberstar leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Fiberstar funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fiberstar 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 Fiberstar
What does Fiberstar do?
Fiberstar manufactures and sells the Citri-Fi line of natural citrus fiber ingredients produced from citrus juicing byproduct through a patented chemical-free physical process. The fibers deliver dual functionality — high water-holding (9-10x weight) and emulsification (binds 3x weight in oil) — at usage levels under 1%, and are sold to food and beverage manufacturers across bakery, beverages, dairy, dressings, frozen foods, processed meats, plant-based meats, pet food, and supplements applications.
Is Fiberstar a public or private company?
Fiberstar is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Fiberstar founded?
Fiberstar was founded in 1998. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Fiberstar based?
Fiberstar is headquartered in River Falls, United States, in the North America region.
How does Fiberstar make money?
One revenue line is on record: citri-Fi Ingredient Sales.
Who are Fiberstar's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Ingredion, Cargill and ADM (Archer Daniels Midland). Direct peers are Tate & Lyle, CP Kelco, Nexira and Herbstreith & Fox.
Does Fiberstar have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fiberstar.
What industry is Fiberstar in?
Fiberstar's product category is Functional Food Ingredients. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAJAMAI, Fiber & Inulin Texturizers (Soluble Fibers, Inulin/Oligofructose), with a secondary code of AFAKAFAK, Byproduct & Co-Product Processing (Pomace Valorization, Fiber, Extracts, Animal Feed). Its SIC code is 2000.