Latvian fermented plant-based kefir drinks now also available in 100+ stores in Austria

Latvian company Fermentful has taken a strategically important step in its international development: it has started exporting fermented plant-based kefir drinks to Austria in cooperation with retail chain Billa, which is part of REWE Group. This collaboration opens a wide range of export development opportunities not only on the Austrian market, but also potentially in future to other Central and Eastern European countries where REWE Group is present. Fermentful established contacts with Austrian partners at the international trade fair Biofach in Nuremberg, Germany.

Fermentful is an innovative Latvian company that has created a scientifically proven and competitive product – a fermented plant-based kefir drink – using fermentation technology and organically grown green buckwheat in Latvia. The company was founded in 2020 with the aim of creating a healthy and tasty product that helps to take care of the gut microbiome daily. The development of the drinks was carried out in collaboration with experts from the Latvian University of Life Sciences and Technology, using the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) innovation voucher programme. In Latvia and Estonia, Fermentful plant-based kefir drinks are available at such retail chains as Rimi, Narvesen, Sky and Stockmann.

Anda Penka, founder of the company, says that the idea for the fermented drink came from a personal desire to create a plant-based product that is easy to use daily and helps to take preventive care of health. Anda herself does not consume cow’s milk, so she initially wanted to create a plant milk from green buckwheat, but when she saw the market saturation in this segment, she turned to fermentation as an innovative approach. In collaboration with experts from the Latvian University of Biosciences and Technology and using the Latvian Investment and Development Agency’s innovation voucher programme, the company developed fermentation technology for its product recipes.

Green buckwheat, the main ingredient of the product, provides a rich range of nutrients and is fully in line with the company’s vision on sustainability. Furthermore, green buckwheat also improves soil quality and reduces the need for chemical fertilisers, thus contributing to environmentally friendly farming.

The product is rich in natural probiotics and prebiotics, which contribute to the health of the gut microbiome, and it is similar in taste to traditional kefir. It contains protein, essential amino acids and is a valuable source of iron, magnesium and B vitamins, which improve digestion and strengthen the immune system. It is also suitable for people who avoid gluten in their diet. The fermented drink can be consumed immediately as a liquid snack or used in smoothies, added to breakfast muesli or in other healthy recipes.

Fermentful has received international recognition through acceleration programmes such as EIT Food FAN in Finland and MassChallenge in Switzerland, as well as a nomination for the SIAL Paris Innovation Award. The company has been featured in industry media such as Ingredient Network, Food Navigator Europe and New Nutrition.

Fermentful’s pilot factory is in Riga and currently has a production capacity of 8-10 tonnes per month, which is sufficient to cover the Baltic and Austrian markets. In future, Fermentful plans to increase its production capacity and, in the longer term, possibly open a new production facility. The company is also working on new product development to expand its product range and strengthen its position on the international market.

The company’s long-term goal is to become a well-known brand in the health food segment and to expand its presence not only in Europe but also in other regions of the world. Currently, the company’s export targets are specifically focused on Poland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the UK and France.

This article has been produced with financial support from the European Regional Development Fund.