Bee-Free Honey Startup MeliBio Acquired by Switzerland’s FoodYoung Labs

Swiss innovation hub FoodYoung Labs has acquired US bee-free honey startup MeliBio, known for its plant-based Mellody honey. The deal includes MeliBio’s consumer brand Mellody, Generation 1 technology, and related IP, but not the Generation 2 precision fermentation technology. The acquisition aims to expand the reach of MeliBio’s plant-based honey and take its innovation to the next level.

MeliBio, founded in 2020, made a big splash in the market by securing top-tier customers and expanding its distribution across the US and Europe. The fate of MeliBio’s precision fermentation technology, which could have produced bioidentical honey without the need for bees, is currently unknown. This acquisition comes amid a challenging investment landscape for food and climate tech companies, leading some to seek acquisition deals to stay afloat.