Fooditive United · in formation
Fooditive in the U.S.
Fooditive is coming to the U.S. as a full company. We license our sweetener, non-animal casein and fermentation technologies to U.S. food and dairy manufacturers, who produce in their own plants or at a nearby CDMO managed by Fooditive.
Grow-NY 2026 Finalist
Welcome to Fooditive United
Fooditive B.V. is a food-biotechnology company from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, founded in 2018. We develop fermentation and enzyme technology and license it to food manufacturers, who produce in their own plants or at a nearby CDMO managed by Fooditive.
Fooditive United is our U.S. company in formation, with a planned headquarters in Rochester, New York. It will bring our full technology portfolio to American food and dairy manufacturers, and build a New York team to support them.
Industries
Our technologies serve America's food makers.
Our role in New York
We will power food manufacturing in New York by:
- Licensing our technology into existing dairy and juice plants in the region
- Creating jobs in our team and at partner plants, including operator and technician roles
- Turning side streams that processors pay to remove into ingredients
- Adding value for dairy farmers and fruit growers
- Running research and pilot work in New York with universities and partners
- Helping food makers use less sugar and more protein in everyday food
Why New York
Where others see waste, we see value.
New York is one of America's great dairy and fruit states. Its existing plants and side streams can become our production base. No new factory needed.
- 16.6 billion lb of milk produced in New York State in 2025. Source: USDA NASS, New York state overview
- No. 1 New York has made more yogurt than any other U.S. state since 2012 (USDA data). Source: New York State, reported by Dairy Herd
- 2–3 kg of acid whey for every kilogram of Greek-style yogurt. Processors pay to haul it away. Source: Cornell University survey, reported by NPR
- 1.33 billion lb of apples grown in New York in 2021; 576 million lb went to processing. Source: USDA NASS, reported by CNY Business Journal
Whey and apple side streams that processors pay to remove can feed our fermentation. Our licensing model puts production into the region's existing dairy and juice plants.
Grow-NY 2026: one of 20 finalists
-
A regional food and agriculture competition
Grow-NY is run by Cornell University’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement, with funding from Empire State Development.
Source: Grow-NY competition details
-
A 22-county focus region
The competition focuses on Central New York, the Finger Lakes and the Southern Tier.
Source: Grow-NY competition details
-
20 finalists from 330 applications
Fooditive is one of the 20 finalists for 2026, and is based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
-
Summit: 12–13 November 2026, Rochester, NY
Prizes are one $1 million award, two $500,000 awards and four $250,000 awards.
Source: Grow-NY Summit
Our plan for New York
Why we are coming, and how we will stay.
Grow-NY asks a winner to set up in the region within three months of the award and stay for 12 consecutive months. Our plan started before the competition.
-
We license. Local manufacturers produce.
Our model builds on existing plants. In New York we will license food and dairy manufacturers to produce our ingredients close to their customers. For those without a fermentation plant, Fooditive manages production at a CDMO nearby. Every Fooditive technology is available to them under licence.
-
We will be there in person.
Headquarters in Rochester: set-up starts on the award, and Fooditive United Inc. will be registered in New York in early to mid 2027. If we win, we set up Fooditive United in the region within three months, as Grow-NY asks, and we stay. Our Chairman moves to New York to lead it, and we hire locally: business development, application support and technicians at partner plants.
-
We will build with the region.
We plan to run research in laboratory space in New York and our first trials at New York partner plants. Side streams that local processors pay to remove can become the feedstock for ingredients that earn.
From the award to the first New York line
- Quarter 1Fooditive United entity and office in Rochester
- Quarter 2First hires
- Quarter 3Partner trials
- Quarter 4Tech-transfer packages delivered
- Month 18First New York partner line producing
This is our plan for New York. Fooditive B.V. is incorporated in the Netherlands, and Fooditive United, our U.S. company, is in formation.
What we bring to the U.S.
Our full portfolio, licensed to U.S. manufacturers.
Every Fooditive technology is open to U.S. partners. Each one is licensed with the Fooditive Engine and our support.
-
Licensing now
Fooditive Sweetener® Keto-Fructose (5-KDF)
A rare sugar with about 70% of the sweetness of sucrose and about 60% fewer calories than sugar.
-
Licensing now
Non-animal casein
Casein made by precision fermentation, for cheese and other dairy products. GRAS notices submitted to FDA in February 2026.
-
Project-based
Bee-free honey
Honey made without bees, by fermentation.
-
Project-based
Next-generation ingredients
Emulsifier, preservative, fat replacer, thickener and low-salt solutions, developed with partners.
-
Project-based
FAOX-C enzyme
An enzyme that converts fructose into 5-KDF inside the food, to cut sugar.
-
The platform behind them
Fooditive Engine™
Our fermentation and bioconversion platform, licensed with each technology.
U.S. regulatory status
Where each product stands in the U.S.
5-KDF is self-affirmed GRAS (2024, independent expert panel). GRAS notice GRN 1326 was submitted to FDA on 29 January 2026. For non-animal casein, GRAS notices were submitted to FDA in February 2026.
| Product | Market | Pathway | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5-KDF sweetener | United States | GRAS | Self-affirmed GRAS (independent expert panel) | 2024 |
| 5-KDF sweetener | United States | GRAS notice to FDA | GRN 1326 submitted | 29 Jan 2026 |
| Non-animal casein | United States | GRAS notice to FDA | GRAS notices submitted | Feb 2026 |
Added sugars (5-KDF): Not classified as Added Sugars under most regulatory definitions; final labelling is subject to jurisdiction-specific guidance.
How licensing works
Three steps to production near you.
You produce near your market: in your own plant, or at a CDMO near you that Fooditive manages. We supply the platform and support.
-
Evaluation
You test our ingredients in your products with samples and technical data. We review fit, volumes and site.
-
Development
We transfer the process package and work with your team from pilot runs to scale-up in your plant.
-
Commercial licence
You produce under licence, near your market, and supply your own brands or customers.
How the platform flows between Fooditive and partner plants
Careers in New York
Choose work that matters.
Leadership and core R&D stay in Rotterdam. The U.S. team will lead our business in the United States, run pilot and scale-up work, and build research partnerships. The roles open as Fooditive United is set up. Tell us now and we will contact you first.
- Science is led by science, and business is led by business.
- Both leads report to the CEO in Rotterdam and meet every week on priorities, clients and budget.
- As the team grows, we will review whether one U.S. head should lead both teams.
-
Business team · leadership
Business Development Lead, U.S.
Rochester, New York
The United States needs one person on the ground who leads the business every day: clients, partners, sales and the running of the U.S. company.
Register your interest: Business Development Lead, U.S.Responsibilities and profile: Business Development Lead, U.S.
- Lead the U.S. company day to day, together with the CEO
- Build the sales pipeline and win licensees and manufacturing partners
- Lead relationships with universities, state agencies, industry partners and investors
- Lead the business team and own the U.S. budget and reporting
- Reports to
- CEO, Fooditive B.V.
- Experience
- 6 to 10 years in business development or sales in food ingredients, dairy or biotechnology, including at least 2 years in a start-up or scale-up and at least 2 years leading people.
- Education
- Bachelor's degree in food science, chemistry, biology or business. An MBA is a plus.
- Work authorisation
- You must have the right to work in the United States in place before you start.
-
Business team
Go-to-Market and Localisation Lead, U.S.
Rochester, New York
American buyers respond to an American voice. This role adapts our brand and offer for the United States and turns that into new clients.
Register your interest: Go-to-Market and Localisation Lead, U.S.Responsibilities and profile: Go-to-Market and Localisation Lead, U.S.
- Localise our brand, website, presentations and sales materials for the U.S. market
- Shape U.S. positioning per product, in line with our regulatory status
- Lead marketing, PR, events and trade shows in the United States
- Generate and qualify leads for the business team
- Reports to
- Business Development Lead, U.S.
- Experience
- 3 to 5 years in business development or marketing for food, ingredient or biotechnology companies in the United States.
- Education
- Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, business or food science.
- Work authorisation
- You must have the right to work in the United States in place before you start.
-
Science team · leadership
Science Lead, R&D and Grants
Rochester, New York
Science must be led by a scientist. This role leads the U.S. science team and brings in grants and sponsored research.
Register your interest: Science Lead, R&D and GrantsResponsibilities and profile: Science Lead, R&D and Grants
- Lead and mentor the U.S. scientists and science interns
- Plan U.S. research with the CEO and the Rotterdam R&D team
- Set up sponsored research with universities
- Write grant applications, for example SBIR, STTR, USDA, NSF and state programmes
- Reports to
- CEO, on science; aligns with the Business Development Lead on budget and clients
- Experience
- 3 to 6 years after the PhD, in industry or applied research, with experience of writing grants and supervising junior scientists.
- Education
- PhD in food science, biochemistry, microbiology, bioengineering or a related field.
- Work authorisation
- You must have the right to work in the United States in place before you start.
-
Science team
Strain Engineering Scientist
Rochester, New York
Our production strains are the core of our products. A strain scientist in the United States lets us improve and transfer strains locally.
Register your interest: Strain Engineering ScientistResponsibilities and profile: Strain Engineering Scientist
- Design, build and improve production strains
- Run screening and characterisation experiments
- Maintain the strain bank and its documentation, including biosafety files
- Support strain transfer to partners and contract manufacturers
- Reports to
- Science Lead, R&D and Grants
- Experience
- 2 to 4 years, including PhD, postdoctoral or industry work.
- Education
- MSc or PhD in molecular biology, synthetic biology, metabolic engineering or a related field.
- Work authorisation
- You must have the right to work in the United States in place before you start.
-
Science team
Fermentation and Bioprocess Scientist
Rochester, New York · Partner pilot plants in New York State
We license our process to manufacturers who run it in their own plants or at CDMOs. This role turns the licence model into real production runs in New York State.
Register your interest: Fermentation and Bioprocess ScientistResponsibilities and profile: Fermentation and Bioprocess Scientist
- Run pilot fermentations at partner pilot plants in New York State
- Support scale-up and technology transfer with U.S. partners
- Carry out downstream work such as filtration and drying
- Write and maintain standard operating procedures and batch records
- Reports to
- Science Lead, R&D and Grants
- Experience
- 2 to 4 years in pilot or industrial fermentation.
- Education
- MSc in bioprocess, chemical or food engineering. A BSc with strong pilot-plant experience is also welcome.
- Work authorisation
- You must have the right to work in the United States in place before you start.
Future Leaders internship programme
Future Leaders gives students real, hands-on experience in a growing fermentation company, and helps us develop the next generation of Fooditive leaders.
-
2 places
Science Intern
Rochester, New York
Work in the lab and pilot plant with our scientists: run experiments, analyse data and report results.
BSc or MSc students in food science, biology, microbiology or bioengineering.
You must have the right to work in the United States in place before you start.
-
1 place
Business Development Intern
Rochester, New York
Support market research, localisation of materials, events and lead generation with the business team.
BSc, BA or MBA students in business, marketing or food science.
You must have the right to work in the United States in place before you start.
Team
Who you will work with.
-
Moayad Abushokhedim
Founder & CEO
A lifelong entrepreneur who exited his first startup at 23. Leads Fooditive from strain to industrial scale: science, regulatory, IP and legal. MassChallenge 2020 top 11, now judge and mentor.
-
Rob Lussenburg
Chairman
Strategy and governance. More than 20 years of experience in funding.
-
Samar Abushokhedim
Chief Commercial Officer
Partnerships, licensing, the brand and the New York pipeline.
Advisory board
11 members, chaired by Rob Lussenburg, from 5 nationalities.
- Rob Lussenburg, Chairman of the Advisory Board
- Filip Arnaut, R&D Director, Puratos; Managing Director, Sparkalis
- Philippe Szymczak, Former Director, European Investment Bank (EIB)
- Gary Clarke, Former General Manager, Mars Incorporated; general management consultant
- Lady Sohair Salam Saber, President, The Hague Institute for Global Justice; CEO, Wasel & Wasel
- Craig Martin, Chairman, Dynam Capital Limited; former Co-CEO, CapAsia
- Axel Wikner, Senior Corporate Lawyer, Orrön Energy; former investment professional, Davidson Kempner
- Olov Jerker Olsson, Senior Legal Administrator, Court of Justice; formerly European Commission (Legal)
- Hampus Ellesson Ljunggren, Investor, Incos Invest; board member
- Toni Petersson, Led Oatly to a global IPO
- Deb Clarke, Fooditive Ambassador
FAQ
Questions about Fooditive in the U.S.
What is Fooditive United?
Fooditive United is the U.S. company Fooditive is forming, with a planned headquarters in Rochester, New York. It will license our technologies to U.S. food and dairy manufacturers and run our New York team.
Where is Fooditive based?
Fooditive B.V. is incorporated in the Netherlands, with its office in Rotterdam. Fooditive United, our U.S. company, is in formation: set-up in New York starts on the Grow-NY award, and Fooditive United Inc. is planned for registration in early to mid 2027.
Which products will Fooditive bring to the U.S.?
The full portfolio: the 5-KDF sweetener, non-animal casein, bee-free honey, next-generation ingredients and the FAOX-C enzyme, all made with the Fooditive Engine.
What is the U.S. regulatory status?
5-KDF is self-affirmed GRAS (2024, independent expert panel); GRAS notice GRN 1326 was submitted to FDA on 29 January 2026. For non-animal casein, GRAS notices were submitted to FDA in February 2026.
What do U.S. partners need?
Their own plants and equipment, or a CDMO near them that Fooditive manages. We supply the process package and support either way.
Is Fooditive hiring in the U.S.?
Yes. We are building a New York team of five roles and three Future Leaders interns. The roles open as Fooditive United is set up; register your interest through our contact form.
Contact
Manufacturer or investor?
Manufacturer, partner or investor: tell us what you have in mind, and we will reply within two working days.
Fooditive B.V. is incorporated in the Netherlands. Fooditive United, our U.S. company, is in formation, with headquarters planned in Rochester, New York.