Better Juice partnership for sugar-reduced juices

FoodTech startup Better Juice has sealed its first commercial deal to bring reduced-sugar juices one step closer to the supermarket beverage aisles. The company inked an agreement with a US fruit juice manufacturer for commercial instalment of its sugar-reduction technology.

This is Better Juice’s first official commercial venture in its long-term collaboration with GEA Group, AG, Germany. The two companies joined forces in a strategic move to scale up and promote the sugar-reduction technology throughout the global beverage market.

Better-Juice’s patented enzymatic technology uses all-natural ingredients to convert fructose, glucose and sucrose sugars into prebiotic and other non-digestible fibres. The juice passes through a continuous flow bio-reactor housing non-GMO microorganisms that transform the unwanted sugars into beneficial, non-digestible molecules. It boasts capabilities to reduce sugar loads by up to 80%, while preserving the full complement of vitamins and other nutrients inherent in the fruit. The process is claimed to moderate the sweetness of the juice, while intensifying the fruit flavour.

Under the new venture, GEA will design, manufacture and install the bioreactor that reduces sugars, and offer follow-up technical support. Better Juice will produce the microorganisms for the enzymatic process. According to the first commercial order, the fruit drinks manufacturer will produce natural juices with a minimum sugar reduction of 30%, and anticipates the product will arrive in supermarkets in the US early in 2022.

Image caption: Eran Blachinsky, PhD, co-founder and co-CEO of Better Juice, and Gali Yarom, co-founder and co-CEO of Better Juice, with the sugar reduction system.