Foodtech venture fund Sparkalis has taken a minority stake in Fooditive BV, a next-gen food technology business specializing in sustainable plant-based ingredients. Puratos launched Sparkalis, a venture that supports innovation in the bakery, patisserie and chocolate sectors. Its flexible approach means it can offer scalable support to accelerate business growth for food tech innovators. Fooditive’s innovations include an upcycled calorie-free natural sweetener with the taste and functionality of sugar, which is derived from apple and pear side streams.

Following the investment, Sparkalis Managing Director Filip Arnaut has joined Fooditive’s advisory board. There are now eleven foodtech experts sitting on the board. They will provide advice and insights to support Fooditive’s mission to create plant-based ingredients that are healthier for consumers, better for the planet and kinder to animals. The company, based in the Netherlands, has risen to prominence for successfully harnessing its precision fermentation technology to produce ground-breaking innovations such as vegan casein and bee-free honey.