Hoogwegt is the first customer for Opalia’s cell-cultured whole milk alternative and will be testing it in cheese, butter and yoghurt products, both as a complete substitute and in hybrid formulations. The launch is scheduled for November.

Hoogwegt has held a stake in the Canadian food-tech company since 2023 and has signed a two-year contract to manufacture cell-cultured products for commercial use.

“The first batch will be officially handed over to Hoogwegt on 17 November 2026 at Fi Europe in Frankfurt, where the companies will also be presenting a prototype,” announced Roland Wientjes, Global Technology Director at Hoogwegt.