Flavour and fragrance manufacturer MANE has announced that it has acquired an exclusive global licence to produce and commercialise Arzeda's ViaLeaf Reb M technology, expanding a strategic partnership that aims to accelerate the adoption of next-generation natural sweeteners across the global food and beverage industry.
The agreement gives the flavour and fragrance manufacturer full responsibility for the Reb M value chain, spanning production, formulation and commercialisation.
The move builds on the companies' partnership announced in March 2026, when they joined forces to combine Arzeda’s AI-driven protein design platform with MANE’s flavour expertise to develop scalable sugar-reduction solutions.
ViaLeaf Reb M is based on a novel enzyme-enabled process that converts stevia leaf extracts into high-purity rebaudioside M (Reb M), one of the most sought-after steviol glycosides because of its clean, sugar-like taste and minimal bitter aftertaste.
Arzeda says its proprietary protein design technology significantly improves production efficiency and lowers manufacturing costs, helping to overcome longstanding barriers to wider adoption of Reb M.
By taking ownership of manufacturing and commercialisation, MANE expects to offer food and beverage manufacturers a fully integrated supply chain capable of delivering consistent quality, improved economics and reliable global supply for reduced-sugar product development.
"This new step in our partnership with Arzeda reflects our commitment to delivering innovative, high-performance solutions to our customers," said Samantha Mane, CEO of the MANE Group.
By combining Arzeda's breakthrough technology with MANE's production, flavour creation, application and commercial expertise, we can now offer the market a fully integrated Reb M solution that delivers outstanding taste performance and competitive economics.
The extended partnership announcement comes as ingredient suppliers continue to invest in technologies that enable sugar reduction without compromising taste, driven by growing consumer demand for healthier products, clean-label formulations and ongoing regulatory pressure surrounding sugar consumption.
Reduced-sugar beverages remain a particular focus, with maintaining sweetness and mouthfeel a significant formulation challenge.
Dr Alexandre Zanghellini, CEO of Arzeda, described the agreement as a key commercial milestone for the company's AI-designed protein platform.
"MANE is uniquely positioned to unlock the full potential of ViaLeaf Reb M, the first-ever product enabled by AI-driven protein design to reach the market," he said.
By entrusting MANE with production and commercialisation, we are combining Arzeda's innovation capabilities with MANE's global scale and industry leadership to accelerate the adoption of next-generation sweetening solutions worldwide.
