Climax Foods, a food technology company leading breakthrough innovation in the global cheese market, announced it has rebranded to Bettani Farms and appointed former CFO of Califia Farms, Sandeep Patel, to serve as CEO and chairman. 

Additionally, the company announced a $6.5 million initial closing of its Series A, led by S2G Investments, a multi-stage investment firm focused on scaling solutions across food and agriculture, energy, and oceans, with additional participation from new and existing investors that include At One Ventures, Gratitude Railroad, Manta Ray Ventures, and Toba Capital.

Bettani has developed a transformative protein-rich, non-GMO, dairy/soy/nut-free product platform. Its mozzarella, feta, and other cheeses leverage Caseed, Bettani's proprietary protein ingredient. Caseed mimics the functionality and mouthfeel of dairy casein (the protein that allows traditional mozzarella, cheddar, and jack cheeses to melt and stretch) without the allergenicity of dairy, nuts, or soy. The ingredient also offers a creamy texture, neutral flavor profile, and white color, making a range of other protein-rich, dairy-free cheeses possible, including feta, goat, cream cheese, brie, and blue. With protein made from seeds of regenerative field crops, Bettani's cheeses are a natural, farm-sourced, allergen-free and more cost-competitive alternative to fermentation-based attempts to develop casein equivalents. 

These differentiators are the inspiration behind Bettani's tagline, "Better with Bettani."

Along with Patel and the talented existing team, Bettani has strengthened its team with proven plant-based food scaling experience. Recent hires include Rajiv Dave, SVP of R&D (formerly Califa Farms, Nestlé, and Great Lakes Cheese); Tom Zilligen, SVP of sales (formerly NUMU, Pacific Foods, and Schwann’s); and Maxwell Brown, process engineer (formerly Meati and Ingredion).

"Bettani is poised to do for pizza what oat milk has done for coffee," said Patel. "Just as oat won coffee over the last five years with its superior taste, mouthfeel, performance and allergen profile, our Caseed-powered cheeses deliver the melt, stretch, texture, and flavor consumers crave in pizza and other hot foods–without the allergens and high carbon footprint of dairy. Our Caseed protein also powers great non-melty cheeses, such as feta, goat, and cream cheese, adding sensory delight and protein to otherwise animal-free foods like salads, dips and bagels."

Bettani will focus on commercializing Caseed and Caseed-powered cheeses in partnership with frozen-food makers, food service operators and existing dairy-free cheese brands seeking to improve their formulations.

S2G's investment in Bettani is closely aligned with one of its key focus areas, food systems innovation and sustainability. Cheese is the third most carbon-intensive major food group behind beef and lamb, and the most water-intensive. With global cheese consumption forecasted to continue growing strongly for decades, Bettani will leverage the new funding to launch and scale its products rapidly.

About Bettani Farms
Bettani Farms is a protein-rich, dairy-free cheese platform. Its mozzarella, feta, and other dairy-free cheeses leverage Bettani's proprietary protein ingredient Caseed, which mimics the stretch, melt and mouthfeel of casein without dairy, nuts, or soy.