Shareholding of Fraunhofer
Fraunhofer Venture
ProLupin GmbH
The Company
Neubrandenburg, Germany, based Prolupin GmH is a spin-off of the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging in Freising, Germany. With the worldwide leading know how about the fractionation of lupines and their application in foods, Prolupin GmbH is in a strong position on the vegetable protein market. The licensing-in of several Fraunhofer patents secures this position.
The Product
The company's business activities focus on the manufacturing and marketing of purely vegetable, lactose-free milk-replacement products from blue sweet lupines (lupinus angustifolius). This domestic legume is particularly rich in proteins, undemanding as regards soil and climate, and grows predominantly in Northern Germany (soy bean of the North). With the processing technologies developed at the Fraunhofer IVV, it is possible to adapt the lupine proteins flavor profile in such manner as to achieve a milk-like taste. This enables the production of delicious foods from lupine proteins that are able to offer the taste of milk products to those suffering from lactose intolerance or a milk allergy. In addition, the products are cholesterol-free. Possible products include, besides ice cream, lupine milk, and pudding, also yogurt and curd.
These products correspond to an increasing demand for purely vegetable foods and a continuously growing trend towards sustainable raw materials.
Since May 2011, the purely vegetable, lupine-based ice cream has been available on the market and sold under the brand name of "Lupinesse". Lupinesse ice cream is of a particularly creamy texture and has a natural, rich taste. The four ice cream creations are offered at EDEKA Südbayern and EDEKA Südwest in Germany.
With its core competence, Prolupin GmbH is a key partner in the BMBF-funded growth core "PlantsProFood – Foods from Blue Sweet Lupines" with a total of 14 cooperating partners. The partners cover all areas from growing and agriculture, to process engineering, to food production. The PlantsProFood cooperation has the ambitious aim to develop into the quality leader for vegetable food ingredients gained from blue sweet lupines on the European food and ingredient market. The Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e. V. is a copartner of Prolupin GmbH. The required seed capital was acquired from venture capital fund associations of V+ GmbH & Co. Fonds 2 KG and V+ GmbH & Co. Fonds 3 KG.
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