M2 Ingredients, one of the largest vertically integrated functional mushroom grower and ingredient suppliers globally, has announced the launch of the M2 Center of Innovation.
The purpose-built food, beverage and supplement R&D application lab is designed to fast-track product development and raise industry standards in the rapidly expanding functional mushroom category.
The new facility brings together one of the industry’s most experienced functional mushroom R&D teams with a dedicated, application-driven innovation space to support brands developing next-generation products across multiple formats.
These include ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages, ready-to-mix powders, gummies, capsules, shots, bars and other functional formats increasingly in demand by health-conscious consumers.
“This is a major step forward not just for M2, but for the entire functional mushroom industry,” said Jeff Rogers, CEO of M2 Ingredients.
“Brands have historically had to choose between ingredient suppliers and true innovation partners. The M2 Center of Innovation eliminates that tradeoff by combining deep scientific rigour with real-world formulation and application expertise. This will be a powerful asset for our partner brands and a catalyst for faster, more confident innovation.”
Unlike traditional application labs, the M2 Center of Innovation is fully integrated with M2’s cultivation, processing and scientific research operations.
This vertically integrated structure allows formulation challenges, such as solubility, suspension, flavour pairing and sensory performance, to be addressed at the ingredient level rather than through downstream workarounds, enabling more consistent performance and scalable product development.
The centre will be led by Jay Schmalz, R&D innovation manager at M2 Ingredients, and supported by an in-house team of food scientists, formulation specialists and researchers with decades of experience developing functional foods, beverages, and supplements for leading consumer brands.
“This Center of Innovation reflects the infrastructure the functional mushroom space has been missing,” founder Sandra Carter said.
“It is designed to help brands move beyond concepts and into market-ready products that deliver on both efficacy and experience. We believe this will fundamentally change how functional mushroom products are developed and commercialised.”
Chief science officer Julie Daoust added: “This is the partner I always wished I had when I was responsible for bringing new products to market".
She continued: “A team that understands ingredient science, formulation realities, scale-up challenges, and commercialisation timelines all at once. The M2 Center of Innovation allows brands to innovate without having to build a full internal R&D infrastructure, while still delivering products that truly work.”
The M2 Center of Innovation is now open and actively collaborating with food, beverage and supplement brand partners.
