San Francisco, CA — A distribution agreement has been reached that will be in effect across the continent of Europe for TerraVia's AlgaVia brand of Whole Algae Ingredients and Univar, a provider of value-added services and distributor of food ingredients across Europe, Middle East and Africa.

“With the accelerating growth of plant-based foods, driven by consumer demand for clean labels and healthier foods with great taste, there are opportunities for our Lipid-Rich and Protein-Rich Whole Algae ingredients across every aisle of the grocery store,” said Mark Brooks, SVP and general manager of Food Ingredients at TerraVia. “The relationship enhances our ability to serve the European markets and provide plant-based allergen-free ingredients to brands and consumers throughout the regions.”

The products in TerraVia’s line include Lipid-Rich Whole Algae and Protein-Rich Whole Algae. Available in golden and cream flavors, Lipid-Rich Whole Algae is used as an egg and dairy fat replacement in foods such as baked goods, desserts and beverages. A reduction in cholesterol, saturated fats and calories is achieved by removing animal-derived components without compromising the taste and texture of the product consumed. Also utilized in bakery products, beverages and snacks is Protien-Rich Whole Algae, which has a high digestibility rate of 88 percent, contains 63 percent protein, contains essential amino acids as well as six times the amount of arginine levels found in standard whey.

“TerraVia’s innovative portfolio of products and company culture complement Univar’s approach and direction,” commented Simon Atkins, EMEA Industry Director, Univar Food Ingredients. “This portfolio will enable our customers to manufacture the next generation of food products to support the most important food trends that we see in the marketplace in 2017 and beyond.”