VLY Foods

Vlyfoods is a plant-based dairy producer based in Germany. The company uses yellow split peas, rapeseed oil, and rice to produce a variety of pea protein milk alternatives, protein shakes and yogurts. Vlyfoods reported that it had sold 400,000 liters of milk between its 2018 founding and September 2020.

To produce its plant-based milk, Vlyfoods first soaks dried yellow split peas and mashes them into a pulp. The pea mash is then sent through a centrifuge (a special protein extraction process) to extract the yellow pea concentrates. Rapeseed oil, water, and other ingredients are then added to increase the fat content and achieve a creamy consistency.

The company claims its plant-based milk contains 50% more protein content than cow’s milk, and is fat-free, sugar-free, and carbohydrate-free.

As of March 2024, the company’s products are available online and at supermarkets across Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Retailers in Germany include Rewe, Edeka, Rossmann, Globus, Kaufland, Hit, Combi, Budni and Famila and at Billa Plus in Austria. Vlyfoods intends to produce other dairy alternatives and has plans to expand into China, India, and across the US.

Funding and financials

In its latest funding round in May 2021, Vly Foods raised EUR 6.1 million (USD 7.4 million) in a Series A funding round led by Five Seasons Ventures. Other participating investors included Global Founders Capital and Good Seed Ventures. The company expects to utilize the funds to expand its team from 15 to 40, scale its R&D, and launch into new product categories by the end of 2021, such as chocolate drinks and fermented products. The proceeds will also be used to expand across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (DACH region) and into new international markets in the European region, including the UK.