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SAN FRANCISCO — [May 27, 2025] — MeliBio, a California-based pioneer in bee-free food technology, today announces its acquisition by FoodYoung Labs from Switzerland, a vertically integrated next-generation food group. FoodYoung Labs is a leader in food science, culinary craftsmanship, and food tech focused on clean ingredients and transparent sourcing. This strategic asset acquisition includes MeliBio’s innovative Mellody® brand and its “Generation 1” technology and related IP, marking a significant milestone in sustainable food innovation.
FoodYoung Labs operates a full-stack innovation lab located in Balerna, Switzerland, dedicated to developing high-quality snacks, bars, chocolates, spreads, baked, and frozen products. Their commitment to healthy food is backed by transparent ingredient sourcing and rigorous scientific and culinary expertise. The company also supports a diverse portfolio of house brands, including ZAZ, Kakoo, Bonnap, FRŸZE, Mani, and CimaNorma, illustrating their broad capability in creating market-leading food solutions in Europe and the US.
MeliBio has earned global recognition as the creator of the world’s first plant-based honey, Mellody®, which debuted with the prestigious 3-Michelin-Starred Eleven Madison Park as its first customer. Utilizing a proprietary plant-science approach to replace invasive honeybees, MeliBio addresses critical food security and supply chain challenges affecting commercial honey production in the US and Europe. Demonstrating remarkable scalability, MeliBio has successfully expanded its reach from high-end culinary establishments like Eleven Madison Park to major retail partners such as Aldi, exemplifying the concept’s potential to transform the honey industry.
This acquisition signals a new chapter of food tech innovation, combining FoodYoung Labs’ expertise in crafting clean, scientifically advanced food solutions with MeliBio’s trailblazing bee-free technology. With this acquisition, FoodYoung Labs will accelerate the development and commercialization of sustainable, planet-friendly food products that meet evolving consumer demands.
“At FoodYoung, the future of food is about blending culinary art with science and ethical sourcing. With our Swiss full-stack innovation lab and U.S. commercial powerhouse, we’re taking MeliBio’s bee-free innovation to the next level—making Mellody truly clean-label and unrefined. The new generation of food must taste amazing, look great, and be uncompromisingly good for people and the planet. That’s the high standard we’re setting.”
Abouzar Rahmani, Founder & CEO of FoodYoung Labs
“Established food companies are essential to advancing foodtech innovation, and MeliBio is excited to leverage the next chapter with FoodYoung Labs to create a meaningful, lasting impact in the industry.”
Darko Mandich, Co-Founder & CEO of MeliBio
"We look forward to the evolution of MeliBio's technology under FoodYoung Labs, which is uniquely poised to take the innovations behind Mellody® forward through their proven expertise, ability to scale, and success in the market."
Dr. Aaron Schaller, Co-Founder & CTO of MeliBio
About FoodYoung Labs
FoodYoung Labs is a Swiss-based leader in food science, culinary craftsmanship, and food tech, dedicated to creating products made with clean ingredients, transparent sourcing, and a commitment to health and sustainability. FoodYoung Labs operates a full-stack innovation lab in Balerna, Switzerland that develops cutting-edge snacks, bars, chocolates, spreads, baked, and frozen products. The company’s portfolio includes house brands such as ZAZ, Kakoo, Bonnap, FRŸZE, Mani, and CimaNorma, demonstrating deep expertise across multiple food categories.
About MeliBio
MeliBio is a California-based bee-free technology pioneer focused on creating sustainable alternatives to commercial bee-made honey. The company was founded in 2020 by Darko Mandich, a former honey industry executive and immigrant from Serbia who partnered with American scientist Dr. Aaron Schaller to launch the world's first sustainable honey that supports native pollinator biodiversity, thereby being better for humans and better for bees. Through a proprietary plant-science approach designed to replace invasive honeybees, MeliBio addresses honey’s critical role in food security and supply chain challenges in the US and Europe.