Prodalim Acquires Better Juice to Drive Sugar Reduction in Beverages
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Why It Matters
The acquisition gives Prodalim a patented, GRAS‑cleared sugar‑reduction platform, enabling rapid entry into the fast‑growing better‑for‑you beverage market and strengthening its specialty‑ingredients portfolio.
Key Takeaways
- •Better Juice cuts fruit sugar up to 80%, calories 60%
- •Prodalim to launch US production line in Florida H2 2026
- •Technology holds GRAS status, patents in eight regions
- •Acquisition expands Prodalim’s specialty ingredient portfolio
- •45% of consumers aim to lower sugar intake
Pulse Analysis
Consumer aversion to sugar is reaching a tipping point. A recent 3,000‑person survey found 45% of Americans actively trying to reduce sugar, outpacing the 29% seeking more protein. The trend is amplified by the rapid adoption of GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs, which have nudged two‑thirds of users to cut sugary sodas and prompted a broader cultural shift toward lower‑calorie drinks. Companies that can deliver sweetness without the sugar hit are poised to capture a sizable share of the $150 billion U.S. beverage market.
Better Juice’s enzymatic platform offers a biologically based solution. By passing fruit juice through immobilised microbes, sucrose becomes dietary fibre, glucose turns into gluconic acid, and fructose converts to sorbitol, delivering up to an 80% sugar reduction and a 60% calorie cut. The process retains the juice’s natural micronutrients and mouthfeel, sidestepping artificial sweeteners. With GRAS status secured in the United States and patents covering eight regions, the technology is ready for commercial scale, and its Tel Aviv plant already processes over 250 million litres annually.
Prodalim’s acquisition accelerates the rollout of this technology across its global juice and specialty‑ingredients divisions. The new Florida line, slated for H2 2026, will enable U.S. brands to embed sugar‑reduction at scale, from juices to dairy, frozen desserts, and confectionery. By integrating Better Juice’s platform, Prodalim strengthens its vertically integrated model, offering manufacturers a turnkey path to meet regulatory pressure and consumer demand for healthier products. As the sugar‑reduction wave gathers momentum, the combined entity is well‑positioned to become a cornerstone supplier in the evolving better‑for‑you landscape.
Deal Summary
Dutch juice giant Prodalim has completed the acquisition of Israeli startup Better Juice, which uses microbial enzymes to convert fruit sugars into dietary fibre and non‑digestible molecules. The deal will accelerate Better Juice’s technology rollout in the US and expand Prodalim’s sugar‑reduction capabilities across beverages and other food categories.
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