New Zealand-based Leaft Foods has partnered with Lacto Japan to introduce its advanced Rubisco Protein Isolate into the Japanese market.
The collaboration aims to accelerate the commercialisation of Leaft Foods’ novel protein in the Japanese food industry, using Lacto Japan’s market expertise.
Rubisco Protein Isolate is a protein extracted directly from green leaves, said to provide a superior nutritional profile than animal-based proteins such as whey.
Also, it offers a superior amino acid profile and significant benefits to manufacturers.
Rubisco Protein is said to enable food manufacturers to replace eggs, emulsifiers, and artificial ingredients with a clean-label protein.
Leaft Foods co-founder John Penno said: “It has been tremendously exciting to work with Lacto, a capable and innovative partner, as we’ve sought to enter the sophisticated Japanese market.
“Lacto’s role as our trusted local collaborator has been invaluable in providing essential market and supply chain intelligence and relationship management that can enable successful market penetration.”
Lacto Japan is experienced in connecting New Zealand and Australian ingredient companies to major Japanese food manufacturers.
Leaft said that the partnership, which allows its entry into Japan, aligns with its strategy to target innovation-driven markets with demand for advanced proteins.
The two companies are already working together with Japanese food manufacturers in sectors such as plant-based foods, bakery products, and sports nutrition.
They share a common goal of building a business valued at tens of millions of dollars over the next five years.
Lacto Japan Oceania general manager Takeshi Shimizu said: “It is not every day that you discover such an exciting new protein.
“What impressed us most was not only the protein system itself, but the fact that we have been able to work with it in a range of promising applications from the start.
“The quality, texture and flavour of the foods produced meet the exceptionally high standards that Japanese consumers expect.”
