Leaft Foods partners with Lacto Japan to bring leaf-derived protein to Japanese market

JAPAN – Leaft Foods, a pioneer in extracting protein directly from green leaves, has entered into a strategic partnership with Lacto Japan Co., Ltd., one of Japan’s leading distributors and producers of specialty food ingredients. 

The collaboration is set to accelerate the commercialization of Leaft’s Rubisco Protein Isolate in Japan’s highly developed food manufacturing sector.

Isolate represents a breakthrough in the global protein market. Extracted from green leaves, it delivers both nutritional and functional properties that surpass those of traditional animal proteins, such as whey. 

According to Leaft Foods, Rubisco offers a superior amino acid profile compared to whey protein, positioning it as a new benchmark for protein nutrition.

Beyond its nutritional function, Rubisco also serves as a versatile ingredient. It can replace eggs, emulsifiers, and gelling agents while supporting clean-label formulations that avoid artificial additives. 

The protein has been consumed historically by humans but is now being commercialized through a sustainable production system designed to meet both quality and environmental standards.

John Penno, co-founder of Leaft Foods, emphasized the importance of the new partnership in advancing the company’s global ambitions. 

He described working with Lacto Japan as “tremendously exciting”, noting that the distributor’s market knowledge and supply chain expertise have been “invaluable in enabling successful market penetration” in Japan.

Lacto Japan has a strong history of linking ingredient companies from New Zealand and Australia with major Japanese food producers. 

Its established relationships and expertise with protein ingredients make it an ideal partner for Leaft Foods’ entry into Japan, a market internationally recognized for its food innovation and consumer sophistication.

The agreement also aligns with Leaft’s broader global strategy of targeting innovation-driven regions where demand for next-generation proteins is rapidly growing.

Commenting on the collaboration, Takeshi Shimizu, General Manager of Oceania at Lacto Japan, called Rubisco an “exciting new protein.”

He added that what impressed the company most was the ability to work with the protein in a variety of applications from the outset. 

The foods created, Shimizu noted, “meet the exceptionally high standards that Japanese consumers expect in terms of quality, texture, and flavor.”

The companies are already collaborating with several leading Japanese food manufacturers across plant-based foods, bakery products, and sports nutrition. 

Early trials have demonstrated strong market potential, with Leaft and Lacto Japan targeting a business valued at tens of millions of U.S. dollars within the next five years.

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Tokyo, Lacto Japan has established itself as a trusted supplier of dairy and food ingredients across Asia. 

Its partnership with Leaft Foods signals the growing momentum behind sustainable, plant-based proteins as the global food industry searches for innovative solutions to meet evolving consumer demands.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.