YeastUp scales to industrial production

Swiss ingredients start‑up YeastUp has officially launched industrial‑scale production of its upcycled yeast‑based ingredients, marking a major step toward commercial readiness and giving food and nutrition manufacturers access to consistent, high‑volume supply for the first time.

The new facility in Lyss, Switzerland, processes up to 40 hectolitres of spent brewer’s yeast per hour, transforming what was previously a brewery by‑product into two functional ingredients: Yeastin, a high‑performance yeast protein, and UpFiber, a beta‑glucan‑rich dietary fibre. Both are produced through YeastUp’s patented extraction process, developed over several years in collaboration with the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland.

The move from pilot batches to industrial output significantly strengthens YeastUp’s ability to serve large‑scale manufacturers across bakery, sports nutrition, plant‑based meat, functional beverages and other high‑growth categories.

Scaling production removes a key barrier for formulators
Industrial‑scale capacity brings several advantages for customers, including:

🞄 Reliable, long‑term ingredient supply suitable for commercial launches

🞄 Greater batch consistency to support quality assurance and regulatory compliance

🞄 Lower cost per kilo as production efficiencies increase

🞄 Access to industrial‑scale samples for accelerated formulation work

🞄 Improved sustainability credentials through large‑scale upcycling of brewing side streams

The new plant increases YeastUp’s processing capacity from 1,600 to 4,000 litres of yeast per hour, with plans to move to 24/7 operation in early 2026.

With demand rising for clean‑label, functional proteins and fibres, YeastUp’s ability to supply industrial volumes positions it as a credible new entrant in a market seeking alternatives to soy, pea and egg‑derived ingredients. The company’s ingredients offer vegan, allergen‑friendly and label‑friendly functionality, including foaming, emulsification and gelling properties.

The Lyss site will also act as YeastUp’s reference facility for future international expansion, demonstrating the scalability of its technology to potential partners and investors. The company is currently raising a Series A round to support further growth.

YeastUp’s industrial launch signals growing momentum behind upcycled, fermentation‑derived ingredients – and provides manufacturers with a new, dependable source of functional protein and fibre at commercial scale.

Photo: The ultrafiltration plant for purifying native yeast proteins. Copyright: Nik Egger.