Bee-free honey maker MeliBio acquired by FoodYoung Labs

In California, MeliBio, a pioneer in bee-free food, has been acquired by Switzerland-based foodtech FoodYoung Labs for an undisclosed sum. MeliBio has earned global recognition as the creator of the world’s first plant-based honey, Mellody, which debuted at “buzzy”—and Michelin-star rated—Manhattan restaurant Eleven Madison Park.

The deal includes MeliBio’s Mellody brand and its “Generation 1” technology and related IP, which uses a proprietary blend of plant-derived ingredients to replicate the taste, texture, and functionality of honey. MeliBio’s second-generation technology, which is still in development, uses precision fermentation to mimic the enzymatic process bees use to convert nectar into honey. The fate of this technology was not disclosed.