Dutch plant-based dairy start-up Willicroft is launching its first non-cheese product in September 2023, a plant-based fermented butter.
In a statement announcing the launch, Willicroft emphasised that the product is not a margarine and tastes, spreads, cooks and bakes exactly like dairy butter.
The company developed the product using precision fermentation, enabling it to recreate the taste of “high-end” dairy butter without any artificial flavourings.
Willicroft co-founder Brad Vanstone wrote in a LinkedIn post: “Through precise fermentation, we have replicated the most critical flavour component in butter – butyric acid”.
He added: “We also felt the category was missing a highly functional product that had the multi-use nature of butter. The Willicroft Original Better melts at the same temp as dairy butter making it so much more than just a spread and the perfect companion to cook or bake with.”
In line with its cheese portfolio, the new butter product also uses a base ingredient of beans as well as other natural ingredients. It is created using European soybeans sourced in Austria.
According to Willicroft, its butter contains less saturated fats than other plant-based butters available while being “just as spreadable and meltable”.
The fermented plant-based butter will be available in retail and foodservice this September, initially in the Netherlands and Germany, following two years of development and over €350,000 investment. It was supported by a grant from the Provincie Noord Holland.
The company secured €2 million in a seed investment round last year to expand its cheese into new markets including the UK, the Nordics and Germany.
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2023
World Beverage Innovation Awards – NOW OPEN FOR ENTRIES!
The awards celebrate excellence and innovation across the global beverage industry. Don’t miss out on having your innovations recognised on a global scale.
Deadline for entries 23 July – enter now!
Don’t get left behind
Start your free Foodbev magazine trial today and join thousands of fellow industry professionals in receiving food and drink trends direct to our business.
Click here to start your free trial
Your privacy We use small files known as ‘cookies’ to enhance your experience of the FoodBev website and analyse site-traffic. Read about how we use cookies or how you may control them in our updated privacy policy and cookie policy. If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies. Click the ‘OKAY‘ button at the top right of this panel to accept or click here for more information.