What Bio Cat does

BIO-CAT, Inc. is a privately-held, family-controlled biotechnology company founded in 1988 by Edward Schuler in Troy, Virginia, that develops, manufactures, and markets proprietary enzymes, probiotics, and microbial ingredients for human nutrition, animal nutrition, and agricultural/industrial life sciences applications. The company operates two facilities—a primary enzyme production and headquarters site in Troy, VA (expanded from 12,000 to over 90,000 square feet) and a wholly-owned subsidiary, BIO-CAT Microbials LLC, in Shakopee, MN. Core technology centers on microbial fermentation using proprietary Bacillus strains, producing branded ingredient lines that include OPTIZIOME® enzyme blends (notably OPTIZIOME P3 HYDROLYZER® protease and OPTIZIOME Fructanase), OPTIBIOME® probiotic strains (Bacillus subtilis MB40/ATCC122264 and BS50), and OPTIFEED® companion animal probiotics, with deep-tank fermentation capacity being expanded through a $35 million facility investment announced in 2022.

The company's commercial model combines B2B ingredient sales with custom formulation, blending, fermentation, and R&D services, distributing through direct enterprise sales for human nutrition and exclusive channel partnerships for animal nutrition. Caldic North America holds exclusive North American distribution rights for OPTIFEED®, while Kerry Health & Nutrition globally distributes OPTI-BIOME MB40® across approximately 150 locations in 31 countries. Pricing is quote-based and undisclosed; named customers include Iovate/MuscleTech for sports nutrition (OPTIZIOME P3 HYDROLYZER® in MuscleTech Plant Protein) and pet food manufacturers served through Caldic. The portfolio spans at least six end-verticals: dietary supplements (primary), food & beverage, animal nutrition, brewing & distilling, cleaning, and industrial processing, supported by regulatory clearances including FDA GRAS No Objection (GRN 955) for OPTI-BIOME MB40, a Health Canada Master File, AAFCO approval, and 2025 QAI organic certification covering both facilities and key branded products.

Ownership remains with the Schuler family following founder Ed Schuler's passing; his son Chris Schuler now serves as CEO and co-founder, with Stephen Schuler as AVP of Operations. The company has operated for over 35 years, has grown from 12,000 to over 90,000 square feet of facilities, and has pursued multi-year capacity and clinical-substantiation expansion to support its branded ingredient and custom-services business.

Name

Bio Cat

Legal name

BIO-CAT Inc.

Website

https://bio-cat.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BIO-CAT is a privately-held, family-owned US biotech founded in 1988 that develops, manufactures, and markets proprietary enzymes, probiotics, and microbial ingredients for dietary supplement, food & beverage, animal nutrition, brewing, cleaning, and processing manufacturers, with global reach via exclusive partnerships with Kerry and Caldic North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty enzyme and probiotic ingredients

NAICS

Animal Food Manufacturing (3111), Food Manufacturing (311), Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Enzymes & Industrial Biotechnology Inputs (Enzymes, Microbial Strains, Fermentation Aids) (EUAAAIAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ingredient Blends & Systems / Custom Formulation (Seasoning Systems, Functional Blends) (CRADAOAO), Probiotics & Digestive Health Supplements (CRADAGAF), Natural/Organic & Limited-Ingredient Diets (CRADAFAH), Non-Antibiotic Health & Performance Supplements (Immune, Gut Health, Stress/Heat Support) (AFADALAO), Bio-based Food & Flavor Ingredients (Non-fuel Co-products: sweeteners, organic acids, flavors) (EUAAAIAJ)

Keywords

• Enzyme ingredients
• Probiotic formulations
• Microbial fermentation
• Custom ingredient blending
• Animal nutrition enzymes

Headquarters

HQ city

Troy

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Enzyme Ingredients: Sale of proprietary enzyme blends for dietary supplements, food & beverage, animal nutrition, brewing & distilling, cleaning, and processing applications
2. Probiotic & Microbial Ingredients: Sale of Bacillus-based probiotic strains and microbial solutions for human, animal, and agricultural nutrition
3. Custom Formulation & Development Services: Custom formulation, blending, fermentation, and R&D project services for customers requiring tailored solutions
4. Branded Ingredient Solutions: Sale of proprietary branded ingredients including OPTIZIOME, OPTIBIOME, and OPTIFEED product lines

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BIO-CAT develops, manufactures, and markets proprietary enzyme blends, probiotic strains, and microbial ingredients under the OPTIZIOME, OPTIBIOME, and OPTIFEED product families for use in dietary supplements, food & beverage, animal nutrition, brewing & distilling, cleaning, and industrial processing applications. The company complements its ingredient catalog with custom formulation, custom blending, custom fermentation, and R&D project services, supplying ingredient buyers and finished-product manufacturers directly and through exclusive channel partners.

Product overview

BIO-CAT is a premier biotech company specializing in enzymes, probiotics, and microbials for diverse applications. The company operates as both a product manufacturer and service provider. Product portfolio includes branded enzyme solutions (OPTIZIOME® P3 HYDROLYZER® for protein performance, OPTIZIOME® Fructanase for FODMAP digestion), branded probiotic strains (OPTIBIOME BS50®, OPTIBIOME MB40®), and OPTIFEED® for companion animal health. Service offerings encompass custom formulating, blending, fermentation, R&D projects, quality assurance, and regulatory support. The company has over 35 years of experience and operates facilities in Troy, VA and Shakopee, MN, recently achieving organic certification through QAI for both facilities and key branded products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OPTIZIOME®: Branded enzyme solutions including OPTIZIOME P3 HYDROLYZER for protein performance and OPTIZIOME Fructanase for FODMAP digestion.
• OPTIBIOME®
• OPTIFEED®

Products and services

• OPTIZIOME P3 HYDROLYZER A proprietary protease enzyme blend marketed under BIO-CAT's OPTIZIOME branded ingredient family for use in dietary supplement, food & beverage, and protein-digestion applications. Targeted at brand manufacturers and formulators seeking a clinically-validated, differentiated digestive enzyme ingredient.
• OPTIBIOME BS50 (Bacillus subtilis BS50) A proprietary Bacillus subtilis probiotic strain marketed under BIO-CAT's OPTIBIOME branded ingredient family, with a published peer-reviewed safety manuscript supporting its use in dietary supplement and functional food applications. Intended for supplement and functional food brand manufacturers seeking a clinically-substantiated probiotic ingredient.
• OPTIBIOME MB40 (Bacillus subtilis MB40) A proprietary Bacillus subtilis probiotic strain marketed under BIO-CAT's OPTIBIOME branded ingredient family, with FDA GRAS recognition and supported by peer-reviewed clinical trials. Intended for supplement, food & beverage, and nutrition brand manufacturers seeking an FDA-reviewed Bacillus probiotic ingredient.
• OPTIFEED (companion animal probiotic line) A line of BIO-CAT's Bacillus-based probiotic ingredients branded as OPTIFEED and marketed for companion animal nutrition applications, distributed exclusively in North America through channel partner Caldic. Intended for pet food and companion animal supplement formulators seeking proprietary, clinically-validated probiotic ingredients.
• OPTIZIOME Fructanase A fructanase enzyme marketed under BIO-CAT's OPTIZIOME branded ingredient family for applications targeting fructan digestion and related food, beverage, or supplement formulations. Intended for manufacturers and formulators seeking a validated fructan-degrading enzyme ingredient.
• Custom Formulation Services Custom formulation services that tailor enzyme, probiotic, and microbial ingredient combinations to a customer's specific finished product specifications. Intended for dietary supplement, food & beverage, animal nutrition, brewing & distilling, cleaning, and industrial processing manufacturers needing differentiated ingredient formulations.
• Custom Blending Services Custom blending services that combine BIO-CAT's enzymes, probiotics, and microbials into finished ingredient blends for direct use by brand manufacturers in production. Available across supplement, food & beverage, and animal nutrition categories.
• Custom Fermentation Services Contract fermentation services leveraging BIO-CAT's deep-tank fermentation capacity in Troy, Virginia to produce customer-specified microbial strains and enzyme products at scale. Intended for ingredient buyers and biotech partners without in-house fermentation infrastructure.
• Custom R&D Projects Custom research and development project services staffed by BIO-CAT's R&D team (including PhD scientists) to develop novel enzymes, probiotics, or microbial ingredients for specific customer applications. Supports brand manufacturers and ingredient buyers seeking co-developed specialty ingredients.
• Quality Assurance and Quality Control Services Internal QA/QC services that verify ingredient purity, potency, and consistency to support BIO-CAT's FDA GRAS, USDA Organic, non-GMO, kosher, halal, and vegan certifications. Used in support of finished ingredient manufacturing for B2B customers.
• Regulatory Support Services Regulatory support services that assist brand customers with documentation, certification evidence, and claims substantiation required to bring finished enzyme- or probiotic-containing products to market across nutraceutical, food & beverage, and animal nutrition categories.

Quantifiable outcome

• OPTIZIOME P3 HYDROLYZER clinically shown to increase postprandial circulating amino acids by 36%, essential amino acids by 23%, BCAAs by 14%, and leucine by 14% compared to placebo within 2 hours of consuming plant-based protein
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Caldic North AmericacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 16 January 2024BIO-CAT partnered with Caldic North America to bring their proprietary probiotic strains and OPTIFEED branded solutions to the Companion Animal Health and Nutrition market in North America. This exclusive partnership secures a rapid go-to-market strategy, leveraging Caldic's leadership position as a provider of value-add antioxidant, vitamin, mineral, and ingredient solutions.
• Kerry Health & NutritioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2021Global partnership where Kerry leads sales, marketing, and distribution of BIO-CAT's proprietary probiotic strain OPTI-BIOME MB40. Kerry applies its brand development capabilities and global marketing infrastructure with a network of nearly 150 locations across 31 countries. BIO-CAT CEO Chris Schuler stated Kerry's expertise and commitment to developing a leading probiotic platform makes them an ideal partner.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lallemand: Canadian-headquartered global specialist in yeast, bacteria, and fermentation-derived ingredients with a dedicated Lallemand Health & Nutrition probiotic business serving supplements, food, and animal nutrition. Directly comparable B2B microbial/probiotic manufacturer with proprietary Bacillus and other strains and custom fermentation capabilities.
• BioGaia: Swedish probiotic company that develops proprietary Lactobacillus and Bacillus strains licensed to supplement and infant formula brands globally. Comparable as a small-cap, science-driven B2B probiotic strain licensor with peer-reviewed clinical data and a similar channel-partner go-to-market.
• Lesaffre: French global yeast and fermentation specialist with a Human Care/health nutrition arm (including Gnosis by Lesaffre) producing probiotic and nutritional yeast ingredients for supplements and food. Closely mirrors BIO-CAT's B2B fermentation-derived ingredient model across overlapping end-markets.
• AB Enzymes: Specialty enzyme manufacturer (part of ABF/AB Enzymes group) producing industrial and food-grade enzymes for baking, brewing, and nutrition applications. Direct peer in scale and category, selling proprietary enzyme preparations to ingredient and food customers much like BIO-CAT.

Broad incumbents

• Novonesis: Post-2024 merger entity combining Novozymes and Chr. Hansen into the world's largest enzyme and microbial culture producer serving food, beverage, human nutrition, animal health, and agriculture. Overlaps directly with BIO-CAT's enzyme and Bacillus probiotic categories but with vastly greater R&D and global commercial reach.
• DSM-Firmenich: Global nutrition, health, and ingredients major with a substantial animal nutrition and human nutrition premix and ingredient franchise. Comparable to BIO-CAT as an upstream B2B supplier of functional ingredients (including probiotic and enzyme lines) into feed and supplement formulators.
• Kemin Industries: Private, family-owned global ingredient manufacturer with major animal nutrition and pet food divisions producing enzymes, probiotics, antioxidants, and functional additives. Comparable product overlap (especially in companion animal and livestock) but materially larger scale and broader portfolio.
• ADM Animal Nutrition: Major global agribusiness with a sizable animal nutrition premix and additive business including enzymes, probiotics, and direct-fed microbials for livestock and pet food. Overlaps BIO-CAT's production-animal and companion-animal feed-ingredient offerings but at vastly larger commodity scale.
• IFF Health & Biosciences: Large global business unit of International Flavors & Fragrances producing cultures, enzymes, probiotics, and food ingredients for food, beverage, dietary supplement, and animal nutrition customers. Overlaps BIO-CAT's enzyme/probiotic franchise but at vastly greater scale and with a much broader product set.

Others

• Kerry Group: Global taste and nutrition major; BIO-CAT's exclusive global distribution partner for OPTI-BIOME MB40. While Kerry also internally develops and supplies probiotic ingredients (and is partly a competitor), it is most relevant here as the channel and commercial-services counterpart whose scale BIO-CAT monetizes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bio-cat

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Bio Cat