Clean Food Group acquires Algal Omega 3 assets, establishes yeast fermentation oil facility
CFG expects to reduce capex requirements and bring sustainable oils and fats to market at competitive price points across the food, cosmetics, and pet food industries.
UK – Food-tech company Clean Food Group (CFG) has acquired the assets of Algal Omega 3 out of administration, securing a 1-million-litre capacity fermentation facility and positioning itself as the world’s largest manufacturer of yeast fermentation-derived oils and fats.
The deal follows Algal Omega 3’s collapse earlier this year after rising production costs and intense international competition left the business unable to sustain key contracts.
The acquisition package includes a 12-acre site in Knowsley, within the Liverpool city region, already recognised as a hub of biotech excellence.
The facility features extensive R&D infrastructure, significant space for expansion, and commercial-scale fermentation capacity.
CFG has already validated its ability to scale at the site, producing two tons of oil in a recent fermentation run.
The milestone materially de-risks the acquisition by demonstrating that its proprietary technology can deliver at an industrial scale without the need for costly greenfield infrastructure.
By leveraging the existing facility, CFG expects to reduce capex requirements and bring sustainable oils and fats to market at competitive price points across the food, cosmetics, and pet food industries.
The acquisition builds on CFG’s recent regulatory approval for its flagship ingredient, CLEAN Oil™ 25, as a cosmetic ingredient in the UK, EU, and US.
With direct access to one million litres of fermentation capacity, the group says it is uniquely placed to serve the global sustainable oils market, estimated to be worth US$20 billion.
To lead the site’s operations, CFG has appointed Bill Thurston as Managing Director of the Knowsley facility.
A veteran of the oils and fats sector, Thurston previously served as Managing Director at Dawn Foods and CSM Bakery, where he led the acquisition of Unilever’s edible oils and fats business, as well as Arkady CraigMillar.
He will head a senior manufacturing team overseeing integration and commercial ramp-up.
CFG co-founder and CEO Alex Neves described the acquisition as transformational.
“We have fast-tracked our route to market, leapfrogging the traditional, capital-intensive path from pilot to demo to new-build commercial plant, which can take years and cost upwards of US$100 million. With commercial-scale validation already established at our new Knowsley facility, Clean Food Group is ready to capitalise on the US$20 billion market opportunity ahead, and to advance its planned Series A funding round, now expected for H1 2026.”
Knowsley Council also welcomed CFG’s investment, with Cllr Tony Brennan, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, saying, “This acquisition will not only create high-value jobs but also positions our area at the forefront of biotech innovation in the UK.”
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