What Sacco does

Sacco System is an Italian, privately held microbial biotechnology group that develops, manufactures and supplies lactic acid bacteria, probiotic strains, enzymes, coagulants, mould cultures and postbiotics for the food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and agro-veterinary industries. The group is anchored by the historical Caglificio Clerici brand (operating since 1872) and the Centro Sperimentale del Latte (CSL) R&D unit, with product lines spanning starter cultures (Lyofast, Cryofast, Lyoto, Cryostart), coagulants and enzymes (Lab/Rennet, Lactase, Lipase), mould cultures (Penicillium roqueforti, camemberti, nalgiovense), protective cultures (4Protection for plant-based, meat and fish), plant-based fermentation cultures (VChoice), and proprietary probiotic strains (CRL1505, LPLDL, SYNBIO, CA15, LA1) including heat-inactivated postbiotic formats.

The business model is B2B ingredient supply: the group sells cultures and ingredients directly to industrial dairy, cheese, plant-based, meat, fish, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical manufacturers across EMEA, Asia-Pacific (Australia) and LATAM (Uruguay, Brazil), supplemented by the INgredients by Sacco System partner network for mid-market access and a dedicated labware e-commerce storefront. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; customers obtain quotes through direct sales channels. The group pursues a horizontal segmentation approach organised around three divisions — Food, Microbiome (with "Active Ingredients" and "Active Services" sub-verticals), and Agro-Vet — and monetises through ingredient sales, formulation co-development and finished solution support.

The group operates across Italy (Cadorago/Como HQ, Zelo Buon Persico operations), Australia (Brisbane development site), Uruguay (BioInsumos, acquired December 2025) and Brazil (Sacco Brasil, fully absorbed December 2025), with sales directors covering EMEA and LATAM. Recent strategic actions include the December 2025 LATAM acquisitions, a March 2024 microbiome therapeutics alliance with List Biotherapeutics, formation of the 3Biotic Hub agricultural network in December 2024, and multiple regulatory milestones (US GRAS for CRL1505 HI and CA15, FSANZ recommendations in Australia), all supporting the group's stated ambition to scale toward €190 million in South America.

Name

Sacco

Legal name

SACCO s.r.l.

Website

https://saccosystem.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1934

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sacco System is an Italian privately held microbial biotechnology group that develops, manufactures and supplies lactic acid bacteria, probiotic strains, enzymes, coagulants, mould cultures and postbiotics to industrial food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and agro-veterinary manufacturers globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Microbial Food Ingredients & Probiotics

NAICS

Food Manufacturing (311), Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000), Dairy Products (2020), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultures, Probiotics & Fermentation Ingredients (Starter Cultures, Yeast, Adjuncts) (CRADAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Probiotics & Digestive Health Supplements (CRADAGAF), Probiotic/Direct-Fed Microbial (DFM) Premixes (AFADAGAG), Probiotic/Fermented Functional Cultured Dairy (Added Cultures/Prebiotics) Manufacturing (AFAHADAJ), Fermented & Air-Dried Charcuterie (Salami, Pepperoni, Prosciutto-Style) (AFANAEAE)

Keywords

• Lactic acid bacteria cultures
• Probiotic strains and postbiotics
• Cheese coagulants and rennet
• Food fermentation ingredients
• Microbial biotechnology solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Cutral-co

HQ country

Argentina

HQ region

Latin America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Food Ingredients (B2B): Sale of microbial ingredients including lactic acid bacteria, enzymes, coagulants, and cultures to food processing companies for dairy, cheese, meat, fish, bakery, and plant-based fermented products. Revenue generated through direct B2B sales to food industry manufacturers globally.
2. Microbiome / Nutraceutical Ingredients (B2B): Sale of probiotic strains, postbiotics, and active ingredients to nutraceutical and pharmaceutical companies for human health applications including supplements, functional foods, and pharmaceutical products. Revenue from ingredient supply to B2B customers.
3. Agro-Veterinary Products (B2B): Sale of lactic acid bacteria and fermentation cultures for animal health and agriculture applications including poultry, pet, and agricultural uses.
4. Labware Products: Sale of laboratory equipment and labware products through the company's dedicated labware.saccosystem.com platform.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sacco System is an Italian microbial biotechnology company that develops, manufactures, and sells lactic acid bacteria cultures, probiotic strains, postbiotics, enzymes (lactase, lipase), coagulants/rennet, and protective cultures for the food (dairy, cheese, meat, fish, plant-based), nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and agro-veterinary industries worldwide. The group's portfolio is organized into three divisions — Food, Microbiome, and Agro-Vet — serving B2B customers with both commodity starter cultures and proprietary health-targeted probiotic strains.

Product overview

Sacco System operates as a microbial biotechnology company serving the food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and agro-veterinary sectors globally. The product portfolio spans three divisions: Food (starter cultures, enzymes, coagulants, moulds), Microbiome (probiotic strains and postbiotics for human health), and Agro-vet (lactic bacteria for agriculture and animal health). Core product lines include Lyofast, Cryofast, Lyoto, and Cryostart for starter cultures in freeze-dried and frozen forms; Lab/Rennet and Lipase enzymes from Caglificio Clerici brand (established 1872); Lactase enzyme for lactose-free dairy; Mould cultures (Penicillium roqueforti, camemberti, nalgiovense); and NSLAB for secondary cheese ripening. Specialized lines include 4Protection (protective cultures for plant-based, meat and fish products) and VChoice (cultures for plant-based fermented products). Probiotic offerings feature strains CRL 1505, LPLDL, SYNBIO, LA1, and CA15, with recent GRAS status achievements for heat-inactivated formulations targeting nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lyofast: Freeze-dried lactic acid bacteria cultures for direct inoculation in milk processing
• Cryofast
• Lyoto
• Cryostart
• 4Protection
• VChoice
• KISET
• SYNBIO
• PerforMilk
• Lactoplus
• D2
• 3Biotic Hub
• AgroService
• CRL1505
• LPLDL
• Lactosil
• FreshQ
• Ingredients by Sacco System

Products and services

• Lyofast Freeze-dried lactic acid bacteria cultures designed for direct inoculation during milk processing. Available in pack sizes from 5 to 50 UC dosage units as part of the starter cultures portfolio for dairy applications.
• Cryofast Frozen lactic acid bacteria cultures in pellet form, available in standard quantities of 50 UC dosage units, designed for dairy industry applications requiring frozen viable cultures.
• Lyoto Freeze-dried lactic acid bacteria for preparation of industrial starters; best results achieved when used with Lacmon growth media enriched with bioactivators and vitamins.
• Cryostart Frozen lactic acid bacteria for preparation of industrial starters; complete range for semi-direct inoculation in industrial settings.
• Dairy-Free Starter Cultures Plant-based starter cultures free from animal-derived substances, lactose, GMOs and soya derivatives, available in freeze-dried and frozen forms for direct and semi-direct inoculation.
• Lab (Rennet) Coagulating agent for cheese production used to separate curd from whey, produced by Caglificio Clerici since 1872. Available in liquid, paste or powder forms to ensure quick, consistent coagulation for creamy textures and rich flavor in cheeses.
• Lactase Enzyme Natural enzyme that splits lactose into glucose and galactose for lactose-free dairy production. Available from Caglificio Clerici in 5kg and 20kg packages, preserving final product organoleptic characteristics.
• Lipase Clerici Natural flavor enzyme from Caglificio Clerici that enriches cheese aroma, shortens maturation time, and provides maximum control over the production process. Available in calf, lamb, and goat lipase variants for different flavor profiles.
• Penicillium Mould Cultures Essential mould cultures for cheese production including Penicillium roqueforti for blue cheeses (Gorgonzola, Roquefort, Stilton), Penicillium camemberti for white-mould cheeses (Camembert, Brie), and Penicillium nalgiovense for cured meats.
• Non-Starter Lactic Acid Bacteria (NSLAB) Secondary bacterial flora cultures that act during secondary production phases including cheese aging and eye formation. Imparts specific organoleptic properties and limits unwanted flavors from contaminating bacteria.
• 4Protection Lactic Acid Bacteria Lines Lactic acid bacteria line for protecting plant-based, meat, and fish products from unwanted microorganisms. Plant-based variants suitable for hypoallergenic products from soy, lupin, peas, chickpeas, cashews, almonds, oats, and rice; inhibits yeast and mold while preserving taste, aroma, and texture. Fish variants target anti-Listeria protection in smoked salmon and refrigerated fish.
• VChoice Cultures Culture line for plant-based fermented products (whole curd, broken curd, drinkable, and spreadable fresh creams) using selected strains free from allergens and animal components. V-Label certified vegan, naturally lactose-free, dairy-free, allergen-free, non-GMO per Directive 2001/18/EC.
• CRL 1505 Probiotic Strain (including CRL1505 HI) Probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus CRL 1505 isolated from goat's milk for fermented milk, yogurt, and probiotic cheese. Stimulates immune response and improves immune, digestive, and respiratory systems. Available in heat-inactivated form (CRL1505 HI) with self-affirmed GRAS status.
• LPLDL Probiotic Strain Cardiovascular health probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum LPLDL for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Controls cholesterol levels and blood pressure, suitable for functional and probiotic foods for elderly or cardiovascular patients.
• SYNBIO Probiotic Strain Blend Probiotic strain mixture of Lactobacillus rhamnosus IMC 501 and Lactobacillus paracasei IMC 502 with diverse applications. Can be combined with other strains for functional foods that improve sports performance, promote gut well-being, and produce anti-dust mite allergy products.
• Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus CA15 Probiotic strain for women's health applications that achieved GRAS status designated by the US FDA for use in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products targeting female health.
• Lactobacillus acidophilus LA1 Probiotic strain available in heat-inactivated form. Received positive recommendations from FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) for use in Australia.
• PerforMilk Solution launched in December 2025 designed to maximize milk's potential while preserving protein quality in dairy production, targeting the food industry segment for quality preservation.
• KISET Classic Coagulant Coagulant for cheese production under the KISET brand from Caglificio Clerici, offering modern performance while respecting tradition in the global cheese market (~30 million tonnes annually, ~90 billion euro value in 2025).
• Labware Products Laboratory equipment and labware consumables sold through the dedicated labware.saccosystem.com platform, with a reserved area for registered customers.
• D2 Agro-Veterinary Solutions (D2 Avi, D2 Birds, D2 Pet) Agro-veterinary lactic acid bacteria solutions covering poultry (D2 Avi), birds (D2 Birds), and pets (D2 Pet) as part of the company's D2 product line for animal nutrition and health applications.
• Lactosil 3.0 / Lactosil 500 Agro-veterinary solutions including Lactosil 3.0 and Lactosil 500 product lines for animal nutrition and health applications as part of the Lactosil family.

Quantifiable outcome

• CRL1505 probiotic stimulates immune response and improves immune, digestive, and respiratory systems in children and adults (documented scientific evidence)
• +5 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature16 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 3Biotic Hub (with Landlab and Synbiotec)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 20243Biotic Hub was created through the synergy between Sacco, Landlab, and Synbiotec as a new network of companies for biotechnological innovation and sustainability in agriculture. The hub aims to serve as a research and application partner to optimize the use of biofertilizers, biostimulants, and biocontrol agents in agriculture.
• List BiotherapeuticscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Sacco System and List Biotherapeutics formed a strategic alliance to expand horizons in microbiome therapeutics. The partnership combines List Biotherapeutics' expertise in microbiome therapeutic development with Sacco System's commercial-scale microbial manufacturing capabilities (from microliters to tons), enabling joint development and production of microbiome-based therapeutic products.
• INgredients ProjectminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorINgredients is a partner project network enabling partner companies to access the Sacco System ingredient portfolio. Partners receive access to the full range of microbial ingredients and products for food and health applications, benefiting from the Sacco System brand and product ecosystem.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SaccoSystem
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sacco-system

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sacco