Yeastup Secures Distribution Deal for Dietary Fibre Ingredient Made from Beer Waste
Swiss food tech startup Yeastup has signed a distribution agreement with DKSH to sell its beer-waste-derived UpFiber Beta-Glucan ingredient in the DACH region.
Months after opening an industrial-scale facility to produce proteins from spent brewer’s yeast, Switzerland’s Yeastup is expanding the reach of its sustainable ingredients.
The startup has inked an exclusive deal with market expansion specialist DKSH to distribute its upcycled dietary fibre ingredient, UpFiber Beta-Glucan, to food manufacturers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
DKSH will provide business development, marketing, sales, logistics, and distribution services for the fermentation-derived ingredient to expand Yeastup’s market presence in the region. It will also offer technical expertise as part of its food and beverage ingredients business.
“DKSH is delighted to partner with Yeastup and expand our portfolio with an innovative ingredient derived from yeast,” said Frank Maus, manager of DKSH’s food and ingredients division for the DACH region. “UpFiber Beta-Glucan addresses the growing demand for functional and sustainable ingredients in food, nutrition, and supplement applications.”
A fibre ingredient fit for the gut health era
Founded in 2020 by Daniel Gnos and Urs Briner, Yeastup has devised a patent-pending process that combines mechanical and gentle cell disruption with phase separation methods and advanced membrane technology to isolate protein, beta-glucan and mannoprotein in a single industrial process.
This removes unwanted fermentation byproducts, like bitter compounds, and produces soluble yeast proteins and high-quality fibres. Water is recovered and reintroduced into the process, which helps the company close the loop and contribute to the circular economy.
It makes a range of ingredients for the food industry, including a protein with gelling, binding and emulsifying properties to replace eggs in spreads and baked goods, one with high solubility for use in nutrition bars and ready-to-mix drinks, and another that boosts umami notes, juiciness and bite in meat alternatives without any other additives.
Its fibre solutions, meanwhile, have advanced functionalities like optimal emulsifying, gelling and water-binding properties, along with low-temperature applications and gut benefits.
These include UpFiber Beta-Glucan, which contains up to 85% beta-glucan content. It’s a natural probiotic that improves the texture and stability of various applications, such as dietary supplements, functional foods, and skincare.
The high-fibre content and dispersibility capabilities mean the ingredient can be used in a range of targeted formats – for instance, prebiotic formulations or concepts supporting gut health.
Yeastup’s other fibre solutions include a collagen blend with Gelita’s Verisol HST for functional gummies and beauty products, as well as an immune- and gut-boosting powder for pet food and supplements.
Distribution deal dovetails with Yeastup’s fundraising drive
The startup utilises yeast from breweries in Switzerland and across Europe, helping contribute to a more sustainable and resource-efficient circular economy. It also addresses food waste by upcycling spent brewer’s yeast, an often underutilised byproduct of beer production.
Yeastup operates a 1,700 sq m facility in Lyss, which can process 4,000 litres of spent brewer’s yeast every hour. At its December opening, the firm showcased samples of its first vegan protein bars, with the yeast ingredient replicating the functionality of hydrolysate, a common ingredient used to improve the texture, moisture retention and mouthfeel of conventional products.
“We believe beta-glucan and dietary fibre ingredients will continue to gain importance as brands look for solutions that combine function, nutritional value and practical application,” the company said in a LinkedIn post, stating that the DKHS deal “reflects the growing relevance of functional fibres in supplements, gut health and modern nutrition products”.
It secured $10M in a Series A funding round in late 2024, and is now looking to raise more funds as an add-on to that round, which it will use to accelerate production and international market development.
The partnership with DKSH is likely a strong vote of confidence for potential investors. “We are very pleased to collaborate with DKSH,” said Gnos, who is Yeastup’s CEO.
“With its strong network and technical expertise in food and nutrition ingredients, DKSH is an ideal partner to introduce UpFiber Beta-Glucan to customers across the DACH region and support the market development of our yeast-derived ingredients.”