AB Mauri and Nutris have entered a technical and supply agreement focused on ingredient development for industrial bakery applications in the UK and Ireland. The collaboration centers on formulating fava-based protein and starch solutions for commercial production.

Nutris operates a 45,000-tonne fava bean processing facility in Croatia, where it fractionates the beans into protein, starch and fibre components. The company sources from contracted growers and has established processing protocols designed to maintain ingredient functionality whilst meeting clean-label requirements.

The technical scope covers product reformulation trials across multiple bakery categories. AB Mauri's UK manufacturing capacity will support scale-up of validated formulations. Development work will focus on functional performance metrics including dough handling properties, crumb structure and shelf life stability.

Fava bean protein offers specific technical advantages in bakery systems. The protein fraction demonstrates water-binding capacity comparable to conventional plant proteins, whilst the starch component provides viscosity modification. Nutris's fractionation method yields ingredients with neutral flavour profiles - a recognised challenge in pulse-based formulations.

Jim Hawkridge, Product Development & Technical Director at AB Mauri, stated:

"Nutris has designed a highly advanced technical process realising significant opportunities in fava-bean-based protein. We are equally enthused about the forthcoming commercial and technical opportunities that can be realised with Zvonimir and the Nutris team."

The partnership addresses two industry requirements: plant-based protein functionality and supply chain traceability. Nutris maintains agronomic protocols with growers across defined cultivation zones, providing batch-level tracking from field to fractionation.

AB Mauri will integrate fava protein and starch into existing ingredient systems, including enzyme blends and dough conditioners, with pilot trials scheduled across bakery, morning goods and snack applications throughout 2025.