Small scale production of Apetit’s rapeseed-based plant protein begins - first product with BlackGrain is Mini-Veggieballs

Apetit Plc, press release 17.12.2021 klo 09.00

Apetit’s systematic work in commercializing the company’s new rapeseed-based plant protein has continued throughout the year. Small scale production of the ingredient, called BlackGrain for Yellow Fields, began in October 2021.

”Small scale production enables us to supply BlackGrain for customer samples, testing and for sales to our first clients. Our clients will be able to test BlackGrain in their own product development”, says Avena Nordic Grain’s Business Development Manager Jenny Tallberg.

With high amounts of fibre, protein and healthy omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, BlackGrain is applicable for many product variations. Apetit’s customer-oriented approach to developing BlackGrain ensures the best applications for the ingredient in customer’s products.

”We’ve discovered great applications for BlackGrain in several product categories, and our clients will be testing it in a variety of different products, such as gluten-free bread, snack products and  bars, cereal and plant-protein products”, Tallberg says.

First product launch is Apetit Mini-Veggieballs in early 2022

The very first opportunity to taste BlackGrain in a final product comes in early 2022, when Apetit launches Mini-Veggieballs for Food Service industry.

“Mini-Veggieballs are a vegan product, made from pea protein and Apetit’s very own BlackGrain. Mini-Veggieballs are an extremely versatile product, that works well as a protein in salad buffets or as a meatball-substitute in pastasauce”, says Apetit’s Product Category Manager Hanna Pere.

Mini-Veggieballs are a vegan, high in fibre and gluten-, dairy- and soy-free product.

“It was easy to apply BlackGrain in the development of the veggieballs, because it is suitable for so many diets. BlackGrain is vegan and gluten-, GMO- and legume-free, and low in FODMAP’s”, Pere explains.

Innovative plant-protein from rapeseed with basis in circular economy

BlackGrain is made in Finland from oilseed cake, a significant side stream of Apetit’s oil pressing. Before the development of BlackGrain, oilseed cake was used simply as raw material for animal fodder. BlackGrain received novel food authorisation from the European Comission in February 2021. The idea for this innovative product was sparked by the desire to utilize an existing, sustainably developed raw material in a new product with higher added value.

“Rapeseed-based oilseed cake has excellent nutritional values. By refining that raw material into BlackGrain, we offer a new and easily applicable, Finnish-made plant protein to the food industry. As a product made from existing raw material, BlackGrain supports circular economy and the development of sustainable, high-quality food solutions”, Tallberg says.

Sustainable food solutions are a major trend in product development in the food industry - a trend that has come to stay. BlackGrain is an excellent fit for many of today’s - and tomorrow’s - food trends: it supports plant-based eating as a new plant protein option, made from an existing and underused raw-material.

For more information, please contact:

Sanna Väisänen, Director, Corporate Communications and Sustainability, tel. +358 10 402 4041

Apetit is a food industry company firmly rooted in Finnish primary production. Our operations are based on a unique value chain: we create well-being with vegetables by offering healthy and tasty food solutions that make daily life easier. We also produce high-quality vegetable oils and rapeseed expellers for feeding stuff, and trade grain on the international markets. Apetit Plc's shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. In 2019, Apetit Group's net sales were EUR 313 million. Read more at apetit.fi.