Rich's Taps Precision Fermentation for High-Protein Innovation Rich Products Corporation and The EVERY Company announced a commercial partnership to develop and launch products featuring OvoPro™, a precision-fermented protein ingredient derived from ovalbumin—the primary functional protein in egg white. The collaboration signals a shift in how major food manufacturers are addressing surging consumer demand for high-protein options across traditionally indulgent categories like bakery and sweet baked goods. Rich's, with annual sales exceeding $5.8 billion and operations spanning foodservice, bakery, appetizers, and pizza, plans to launch an initial product using OvoPro™ as both a protein booster and clean-label binding agent.

Dual-Function Ingredient Solves Formulation Trade-Offs OvoPro™ is a high-purity protein with no fat, no cholesterol, and no off-flavors. The ingredient performs multiple roles in a single addition: it provides structural integrity in binding and foaming applications while simultaneously increasing protein content. This dual functionality allows formulators to reduce lower-value ingredients without compromising texture or taste. The ingredient is shelf-stable for up to 18 months, requires no cold-chain storage, and achieves a perfect PDCAAS (Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score) of 1.0. Applications span baked goods, bars, snacks, aerated products, confections, pasta, and savory formulations. "Today's consumers expect protein in places it never used to live and in products we've built our reputation on," said Dinsh Guzdar, Managing Director at Rich Products. "OvoPro™ gave our development team something we hadn't seen before: an ingredient that earns its place in a formulation twice over, as a functional ingredient and as a meaningful protein contributor. That's the kind of elegant solution that lets us say yes to where consumers are going."

Precision Fermentation Enters Mainstream Production The partnership represents a market inflection point for precision fermentation. EVERY's CEO Arturo Elizondo said: "When an industry giant of their scale chooses OvoPro™ as a core formulation solution, it tells the entire industry something important: precision fermentation is no longer the future of food. It's the present." OvoPro™ has already reached consumers through Walmart and Target placements. The Rich's agreement accelerates adoption into global foodservice and industrial manufacturing segments.

Why It Matters

For operators and food manufacturers, this partnership signals that precision-fermented proteins are transitioning from emerging-technology pilots to scalable, commercially viable ingredients. With whey protein shortages and price volatility constraining product development across the industry, a consistently available, price-stable alternative from a credible fermentation manufacturer could reshape protein sourcing decisions for large-scale food producers.

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Written by FBM Publications Editors