Upcycled Foods

What Upcycled Foods does

Upcycled Foods, Inc. (operating as ReGrained / UP, Inc.) is a Berkeley, California-based B2B ingredient and innovation-services company that transforms food manufacturing byproducts and agricultural waste into functional food ingredients. Its flagship platform is ReGrained SuperGrain+®, derived from brewers' spent grain using patent-pending processing technology co-developed with the USDA, delivering 3.5x the dietary fiber and 2x the plant protein of whole grain flours alongside a 43% lower CO2e footprint than conventional wheat flour. The company has expanded into additional upcycled ingredient categories including SuperGrain+ Protein and Fiber variants, Upcycled Arabica Coffee Leaf Tea, Upcycled Cacao Fruit Syrup, Cacao Husk, date-based ingredients, and Upcycled Wine Raisins (CabernayZyn, MerlayZyn, ChardonayZyn).

The business operates a dual revenue model. The first stream is sale of proprietary upcycled ingredients in formats ranging from flour and flakes to syrups and raisins, sold on a quote-based B2B basis to CPG brands, ingredient suppliers, and food manufacturers. The second stream is professional innovation services delivered through the Upcycled Food Lab, providing end-to-end support from opportunity discovery through commercialization, including co-development partnerships. Named enterprise customers include Kroger (private label breads in 1,800 stores), Mondelez, Kerry (co-developed upcycled protein crisp), Puratos (SuperGrain+ Sourdough System), Misfits Market (Odds & Ends private label breads), Griffith Foods (lead investor), Wine RayZyn Company, Stone & Skillet, Act Bar, and Semolina Artisanal Pasta. The company co-founded the Upcycled Food Association and the Upcycled Certification Standard, holds B Corp and Public Benefit Corporation status, and operates with a small (1–10) employee base from a single Berkeley headquarters.

The company has taken only $2.5M in disclosed outside funding (a September 2018 Series Seed led by Griffith Foods with participation from Barilla Group's BLU1877 and Telluric Foods), which it has used to scale processing technology and commercialize the ingredient business. Distribution relies primarily on direct enterprise sales supplemented by channel partnerships with major ingredient suppliers (Kerry, Puratos, California Cereal Products), retailer private-label programs (Kroger, Misfits Market), and foodservice distributors.

Name

Upcycled Foods

Legal name

Upcycled Foods, Inc.

Website

https://upcycledfoods.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Upcycled Foods is a Berkeley-based B2B upcycled ingredient and innovation-services company that converts food manufacturing byproducts — led by its ReGrained SuperGrain+® brewers' spent grain platform — into functional ingredients for CPG brands, ingredient suppliers, retailers, and growers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Upcycled food ingredients

NAICS

Other Food Manufacturing (3119), Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Fortified & Enriched Foods Manufacturing (Vitamins/Minerals, Iodized/Supplemented) (AFAKAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Alternative Protein Snacks, Bars & RTD Nutrition Manufacturing (AFAKAGAK), Functional Snacks & Bars Manufacturing (High-Protein, High-Fiber, Probiotic Snacks) (AFAKAJAG), Snack Bars (Granola, Protein, Cereal Bars) (CRADABAG), Specialty & Functional Packaged Foods (Gluten-Free, Keto, Organic, Medical/Allergen-Friendly) (CRADAAAI)

Keywords

• Upcycled food ingredients
• Spent grain protein
• Food waste valorization
• CPG co-development services
• Sustainable ingredient supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Upcycled Ingredient Sales: Sale of proprietary upcycled ingredients including ReGrained SuperGrain+® and other upcycled food ingredients to food manufacturers and CPG brands. Ingredients are sold in various formats including flour, protein crisps, flakes, syrups, teas, and date products.
2. Innovation Services (Upcycled Food Lab): End-to-end innovation services including opportunity discovery, business case development, product development, scale-up and commercialization, and market launch support. Acts as extension of client teams to help food makers develop upcycled products.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Upcycled Foods, Inc. is a B2B ingredient supplier that produces and sells upcycled food ingredients—led by its ReGrained SuperGrain+ platform derived from brewers' spent grain—to food manufacturers, CPG brands, retailers, and foodservice operators. The company supplements ingredient sales with end-to-end innovation services through its Upcycled Food Labs, which help food and agriculture stakeholders convert byproducts and waste streams into commercial upcycled products.

Product overview

Upcycled Foods, Inc. (operating as ReGrained) is a Public Benefit Corporation and B Corp certified ingredient supplier that offers a portfolio of upcycled food ingredients and innovation services. The core product line centers on SuperGrain+ (derived from spent brewing grain), complemented by additional upcycled ingredients including coffee leaf tea, cacao products, date ingredients, and wine raisins. The company provides ingredient products directly to food manufacturers alongside innovation lab services for custom product development. Partnerships with Puratos (sourdough system), Kerry (protein crisp), and California Cereal Products (multigrain flakes) extend the product portfolio through co-branded modules and applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ReGrained SuperGrain+: Flagship upcycled ingredient platform derived from brewers' spent grain, offering protein, fiber, and prebiotics for food applications.
• SuperGrain+ Protein
• SuperGrain+ Fiber
• Upcycled Foods Lab
• Odds & Ends

Products and services

• ReGrained SuperGrain+ Flagship upcycled ingredient portfolio derived from brewers' spent grain from craft brewing, providing functional protein, fiber, and prebiotics to food manufacturers for baked goods, snacks, extrusions, coatings, sauces, and beverages.
• SuperGrain+ PROTEIN High-protein upcycled ingredient variant delivering 45% plant-based protein with neutral taste and clean finish, rich in glutamic acid, polyphenols, and branched-chain amino acids; supports water binding, emulsification, and structure in snack, bar, and baked good formulations.
• SuperGrain+ FIBER Clean-label fiber fortifier at 69% dietary fiber content that enables high-impact nutrition claims and low net carb positioning; functions as a natural moisture binder and structural booster in food formulations.
• SuperGrain+ Sourdough System Complete sourdough system combining Puratos' sourdoughs and enzymes with ReGrained SuperGrain+ flour, enabling bakeries to create authentic upcycled sourdough products with consistent fermentation performance.
• Upcycled Protein Crisp Protein-rich crisp ingredient co-developed with Kerry, delivering 40% protein and 16% fiber for inclusion in high-protein snack applications and better-for-you product formulations.
• SuperGrain+ Multigrain Flakes Ready-to-use upcycled grain flakes containing 30% ReGrained content with up to 3x fiber of conventional multigrain flakes, developed in partnership with California Cereal Products for cereal and bar applications.
• Upcycled Arabica Coffee Leaf Tea Premium upcycled ingredient made from handpicked arabica coffee leaves, featuring light diffused caffeine, antioxidants, and polyphenols for tea and beverage applications; creates year-round jobs in coffee offseason.
• Upcycled Cacao Fruit Syrup Syrup produced from upcycled cacao fruit pulp containing theobromine, with applications ranging from sour ales to sauces and marinades.
• Cacao Husk Upcycled ingredient from the outer shell of cacao pods, utilized as a functional ingredient in various food applications.
• Date Ingredients (Sugar, Paste & Syrup) Line of upcycled date-based ingredients including date sugar, date paste, and date syrup for natural sweetener applications in food and beverage.
• Upcycled Wine Raisins Whole upcycled raisins sourced from unharvested wine grapes in California vineyards, available in three varietals (CabernayZyn, MerlayZyn, ChardonayZyn) with 8x the antioxidants of regular raisins and unique crunch from toasted seeds.
• Upcycled Food Lab Innovation Services End-to-end B2B innovation services covering opportunity discovery, business case development, product development, scale-up and commercialization, and market launch support; helps food and agriculture stakeholders turn byproducts and waste streams into commercial upcycled products.

Quantifiable outcome

• ReGrained SuperGrain+ emits 43% less CO2e per pound than conventional wheat flour
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Misfits MarketcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 March 2025Co-developed first upcycled breads for grocer's private label under Odds & Ends brand. Launched Multigrain Bread and Honey Wheat Bread featuring ReGrained SuperGrain+ with Puratos' sourdough. Exclusive retail availability through Misfits Market.
• Act BarcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2024Co-developed new line of upcycled snack bars with ReGrained SuperGrain+. Three flavors: Cashew Coconut, Peanut Butter Cacao Nib, Pecan S'mores. UP, Inc. provided innovation lab services for product development and commercialization support.
• Stone & SkilletcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2023Launched Upcycled Certified English muffin made with ReGrained SuperGrain+. Product features 6g protein and 6g fiber per serving. Distributed through Imperfect Foods and Misfits Market initially, expanding to brick-and-mortar retailers.
• PuratoscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 October 2022Co-developed SuperGrain+ Sourdough Baker's Blend for commercial bakery applications. Partnership offers turnkey and custom solutions combining Puratos' sourdoughs and enzymes with ReGrained's SuperGrain+ flour for industrial and artisanal applications.
• KerrycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 2022Co-developed world's first upcycled protein crisp with 40% protein and 16% fiber. Kerry distributes the crisps and provides formulation, application, and category expertise. Partnership aims to reach over 2 billion consumers with sustainable nutrition solutions by 2030.
• Semolina Artisanal PastaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2021Co-branded Upcycled Strozzapreti pasta powered by ReGrained. Limited edition product featuring 3x fiber and saving more than 1 pound of food per box.
• MondelezcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for upcycled ingredient innovation in snack and baked goods categories. Logo displayed on company website as partner.
• KrogercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate label bread innovation partnership. Co-developed three bread SKUs (Seeded Multigrain, Multigrain Quinoa, Apple Cinnamon) with ReGrained SuperGrain+ for Kroger's private label. Products launched in 1,800 stores across 18 states supporting Kroger's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative.
• The Wine RayZyn CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to supply upcycled wine raisin ingredients including CabernayZyn, MerlayZyn, and ChardonayZyn. Made from unharvested wine grapes from California vineyards. Contains 8x antioxidants compared to regular raisins.
• Almond Board of CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Upcycled Foods and BEAM Circular to develop upcycled almond hull ingredients. Project focuses on developing prototypes, testing operational viability, and validating market channels.
• Farm Fresh To YouminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partnership for ReGrained SuperGrain+ Puffs through organic produce delivery service. Three flavors available as add-on to weekly fruit and vegetable boxes.
• California Cereal ProductsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for SuperGrain+ Multigrain Flakes. Upcycled grain flakes offering superior texture, flavor, and appearance with 30% ReGrained content and up to 3x fiber of conventional multigrain flakes.
• Upcycled Food AssociationcoreOthersCo-founded industry non-profit trade association. Administers Upcycled Certified third-party certification program with 200+ members. Company co-developed first Upcycled Certification Standard.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Kerry Group: Kerry is a global taste and nutrition ingredients giant and a current Upcycled Foods co-development partner; it is comparable as a much larger incumbent that could internalize upcycled ingredient capabilities and compete downstream.
• Griffith Foods: Griffith Foods is a global customized food ingredient manufacturer that led Upcycled Foods' seed round and partners on the upcycling mission; it represents a broader incumbent ingredient supplier with the capability to commercialize upcycled inputs at scale.
• Puratos: Puratos is a global bakery, patisserie, and chocolate ingredients company and partner on the SuperGrain+ Sourdough Baker's Blend; it is comparable as an established incumbent with the scale to co-opt upcycled bakery ingredients.

Direct peers

• BarePlanet: BarePlanet produces plant-based snacks using upcycled fruit and vegetable ingredients, including dehydrated fruit crisps; its ingredient sourcing model and sustainability positioning place it in direct comparison with Upcycled Foods' SuperGrain+ portfolio.
• Wasted (formerly Wasted Inc.): Wasted is a Dutch upcycled food brand turning brewery grain and other byproducts into consumer products; while more consumer-facing than Upcycled Foods, it shares the same upcycled grain thesis and competing for shelf space and category narrative.
• Renewal Mill: Renewal Mill is a B2B upcycled food ingredient company best known for its okara-based products; it shares Upcycled Foods' model of converting food manufacturing byproducts into branded ingredients for CPG customers and is a direct comparable in the upcycled ingredient category.
• Outcast Foods: Outcast Foods upcycles surplus and misshapen produce into powdered fruit and vegetable ingredients for food manufacturers, closely paralleling Upcycled Foods' B2B ingredient platform model targeting CPG brand sustainability needs.
• Kuli Kuli: Kuli Kuli is an upcycled/superfood ingredient company built around moringa, selling B2B ingredients and consumer products; it is comparable to Upcycled Foods as a category-defining upcycled ingredient brand serving both retail and CPG customers.

Others

• Misfits Market: Misfits Market is an Upcycled Foods customer and adjacent operator that sources 'imperfect' produce to reduce food waste; it is comparable as a downstream channel partner and ecosystem participant in the broader anti-food-waste economy.
• Mondelez International: Mondelez is an Upcycled Foods partner exploring upcycled ingredients in snacks and baked goods; it is comparable as a global CPG customer and ecosystem participant whose adoption decisions materially shape the upcycled category trajectory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/regrained
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/regrained

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Upcycled Foods