FoodBridge, part of Novax, is investing in Proteinish – an innovative company planning to build Sweden's first large-scale facility for textured plant proteins and plant-based meat alternatives.
Currently, the market is dominated by imported plant-based products, which contribute to higher climate impact and reliance on external supply chains. Proteinish aims to break this pattern by creating a fully Swedish value chain for textured plant proteins, used in products like plant-based meat. The planned facility will utilize Swedish raw materials, such as grains and legumes, to produce high-quality ingredients for food companies and, later, ready-to-eat consumer products. The goal is to begin large-scale production by the end of 2026.
Sofie Borg, Associate at FoodBridge/Novax:
“We are very excited to support Proteinish in their vision to strengthen local production of plant-based proteins in Sweden. With this initiative, we are taking an important step toward increasing Sweden's self-sufficiency in sustainable foods while creating new business opportunities across the Swedish food chain.”
Proteinish was founded by Peter Bolinder, an entrepreneur and business leader, and Isabelle Egholt Falck, an expert in the food industry and plant-based production. Together, they combine hands-on production experience with a deep understanding of market needs.
Isabelle Egholt Falck, Co-founder and COO:
“We are proud and very grateful for this partnership with FoodBridge and Axel Johnson, given their strong position in the food industry. This partnership demonstrates the importance of Proteinish’s establishment and Sweden's self-sufficiency in sustainable, Swedish-made textured plant proteins. Together with our investors, we look forward to introducing the next generation of plant proteins and contributing to the sustainable transformation of the food industry.”
Since its inception in 2022, FoodBridge has focused on identifying and investing in startups with the potential to drive positive change in the food industry. Previous investments include Petgood, Improvin’, Mediterranean Food Lab, and Foodtel. By adding Proteinish to our portfolio, we take another step toward shaping a more sustainable food system.
About FoodBridge:
FoodBridge, a part of Novax, works to promote sustainable development by supporting innovative early-stage startups in the food industry. Through partnerships and investments, we back companies that share our vision of creating a more sustainable food system.
About Novax:
Novax is Axel Johnson's investment company and a long-term, active partner for growth businesses. By investing in, supporting, and developing small and medium-sized companies, we contribute to building successful enterprises and future pillars for Axel Johnson. Novax focuses on four main sectors: Health & Wellness, Technical Security, The Future of Food, and Digital Infrastructure for Retail. Novax’s investments include companies such as ApoEx, Apohem, Bruce, Datema, Filippa K, Hedvig, Matsmart, Personalkollen, RCO, STC, and Voyado.
