Danish food startup FERM FOOD acquires Orkla’s former site and scales up
Up to 20,000 tonnes of fermented ingredients per year
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Danish ingredient producer FERM FOOD is acquiring Orkla’s former manufacturing site in Skovlund, Denmark, effective 1 April 2026. The acquisition provides new production facilities to expand the output of fermented plant-based ingredients for the food industry — driven by export demand that has emerged faster than expected.
Jens Legarth (CEO), Rikke Matthiesen (CSO), and Torbjørn Tyndkjær-Thomsen (Food & Process Developer) at FERM FOOD’s new production facilities.
Ferm Food
“We have outgrown our current facilities. With the Skovlund site, we can supply many more food manufacturers in Denmark and abroad. Global interest has developed faster than we expected — and that is why we are scaling up now,” says Jens Legarth, CEO of FERM FOOD.
Once fully ramped up, the new fermentation facility is expected to reach an annual capacity of up to 20,000 tonnes, depending on product mix, in addition to FERM FOOD’s existing capacity in Denmark (Vejen).
More functionality – fewer additives
Food manufacturers are seeking more natural ingredients that deliver functionality without expanding the ingredient list. FERM FOOD’s fermented ingredients are developed to help extend shelf life, enhance food
safety and improve binding properties — while also adding nutritional value in the form of protein, vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre to finished products.
“Our fermentation technology makes it possible to use fermentation in everyday foods. It offers manufacturers a more natural ingredient solution with functionality — and a way for consumers to benefit from fermentation in mainstream products,” says Jens Legarth.
Already used in everyday products
FERM FOOD’s ingredients are already used in a range of product categories found in foodservice and in retail.
“Our ingredients are used in everyday products such as bread, ready-to-eat legumes, hybrid meat products, plant-based alternatives, binders and salads. With the Skovlund site, we are scaling up to supply fermentation-based ingredients to many more manufacturers and categories,” says Jens Legarth.
Industrial biotechnology at a global scale
Production is based on solid-state fermentation and a carefully selected mix of lactic acid bacteria. The parent company, Fermentationexperts A/S, has patented the technology and operates factories in the USA, Malaysia, Denmark and Ukraine to produce plant protein at scale. Experience from international large-scale production is part of the foundation for FERM FOOD’s 2019 launch and the company’s current scale-up.
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