San Francisco-based food technology company MeliBio has received a new investment from Japan’s Future Food Fund by Oisix, bringing its total funding to USD $10 million. The investment will support the expansion of the company’s plant-based honey alternative, Mellody, which is produced using plant science and precision fermentation technology.
The funding will facilitate Mellody’s growth across foodservice, business-to-business, and select retail channels in the United States. The product is currently available in over 300 locations through distributors including UNFI, KeHE, and Walmart Marketplace. Recent foodservice partnerships include Palmetto Superfoods, Joyride Pizza, and Moto Pizza, with distribution through Sysco-owned Greco and Sons and Ace Natural.
“Mellody offers foodservice and retail customers a chance to provide the honey experience consumers love without the negative impact on bee populations,” said Darko Mandich, CEO and co-founder of Mellody.
MeliBio expansion targets foodservice and retail sectors
The latest investment follows previous funding rounds of $5.7 million in March 2022 and $2.2 million in December 2022, which were directed toward scaling production of the bee-free honey alternative. The company has also secured a patent in Germany for its plant-based honey technology.
Hiro Hasegawa, venture partner at Future Food Fund, highlighted the company’s environmental focus: “What impressed me most about MeliBio is that they not only work toward sustainable food production for humans, but also maintain a thoughtful focus on bees — non-human life — and the ecosystems they shape in harmony with other local species.”
“At Future Food Fund, we are excited to support MeliBio’s vision of giving bees a break while offering a new model for food production through their exceptional products,” Hasegawa added.
The investment aligns with growing industry efforts to develop sustainable alternatives to traditional food products, particularly those that impact wildlife populations and ecosystem balance. MeliBio’s technology offers a solution that aims to reduce pressure on bee populations while meeting consumer demand for honey products.
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