LBB Specialties and Ruby Bio team up ahead of launch for fermentation-derived emulsifiers

LBB Specialties (LBBS) has entered a commercial relationship with Ruby Bio to help prepare the North American market for the launch of fermentation-derived emulsifiers produced from renewable and upcycled feedstocks.

• LBB Specialties partnered with Ruby Bio.
• Collaboration targets commercialization of fermented emulsifiers.
• Initial production is planned for later this year.

The collaboration will focus on customer engagement, market development and commercialization planning as Ruby Bio advances its fermentation platform toward commercial production.

Ruby Bio has developed a proprietary process that uses naturally occurring yeast to convert renewable and upcycled feedstocks into emulsifiers designed to replace conventional palm-derived ingredients. The companies said the platform is intended to help food and beverage manufacturers meet growing demand for clean-label ingredients while improving supply chain resilience and reducing environmental impact.

According to the announcement, initial production of the fermentation-derived emulsifiers is expected to begin later this year, with self-GRAS determination anticipated in 2027.

Ahead of commercialization, the companies will work with prospective customers to evaluate applications, gather market feedback, develop technical and marketing resources, and build awareness of the technology.

Under the agreement, LBB Specialties will lead commercial market development activities across North America, drawing on its technical sales, marketing and ingredient distribution capabilities.

"Our customers are increasingly looking for ingredient solutions that support clean-label initiatives, sustainability goals, and supply chain resilience without sacrificing performance," said Toby Schmelz, Vice President of Food & Beverage at LBB Specialties.

"Ruby Bio represents exactly the kind of science-backed, forward-thinking innovation we seek to bring to market. Their fermentation platform addresses meaningful industry challenges, and we're excited to work together to help customers prepare for the next generation of emulsifier technology."

Charlie Silver, CEO & Co-Founder of Ruby Bio, said the partnership would help accelerate commercialization. "Partnering with LBBS gives Ruby Bio a commercialization partner with the market reach, customer engagement capabilities, and industry expertise needed to accelerate market adoption," he said.

"As we advance toward commercialization, we're excited to combine our fermentation platform with LBBS's sales, marketing, and customer development strengths to introduce a new category of high-performance, fermentation-derived emulsifiers. Together, we can help customers build more sustainable and resilient supply chains without compromising functionality or performance."

While the initial focus is on food emulsifiers, the companies said Ruby Bio's broader fermentation platform also has applications in other food ingredients and specialty chemicals, creating opportunities for future collaboration.