“World’s Largest” Food 3D Printing Factory to Make 60 Tonnes of Faux Filet Monthly

October 3, 2024 by Joris Peels 3D Printed Food 3D Printing Business Europe Featured Stories Sustainability

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Revo Foods has opened a factory in Vienna, which it says is the world’s largest 3D printing food facility. The site will produce a mycoprotein-based fillet inspired by salmon. The fungi-derived food will be made using 3D Structuring technology, Revo’s method for adding texture and bite to foods. The company is calling the facility the Taste Factory, and it will begin shipping products today, October 3, 2024. The firm says the facility could produce up to 60 tonnes of fake salmon fillet per month.

Revo’s key approach is to take its fungi-based material and combine it in a way that mimics the fat and texture of other eating experiences. In this case, they aim to make the product flake and behave like a salmon fillet. The process is also intended to enhance taste. Rather than being made solely through extrusion, the fillets will feel more complex and less like gloopy mashed potatoes in the mouth. Over time, Revo could adapt and improve the textures, mouthfeel, and behavior of the fillet. This could lead to overall optimization or customization for specific clients or uses. For example, a different fillet could be designed for hospitals, where food is typically made in large batches, or for retirement homes, where the product could be enriched with specific vitamins or minerals. The company also envisions custom shapes tailored to individual needs or brands.

Digitalization of the Food Industry: A wide range of products can be manufactured, customized, or newly developed using the same machine.

“With the Taste Factory, we are showcasing that this technology works on an industrial scale. This enables a new generation of food innovations. With 3D Structuring, we can create entirely new textures using simple but nutrient-rich ingredients like mycelium, creating products that are just so much more exciting,” said Revo Foods CEO Robin Simsa.

“Biomasses like fermented mycelium are trending because their natural consistency requires little processing and they are very nutrient-dense. However, in its pure form, it often tastes bland. We believe that for real change, sustainability and culinary pleasure must go hand in hand. We are already working on the next innovations with mycoprotein, which is a lot of fun using 3D Structuring technology since it offers many possibilities to design the product exactly to our liking. We like to focus on taste and nutrition but also on what makes the culinary experiences so unique: Getting the texture right, that is, the authentic mouthfeel,” stated Niccolo Galizzi, Head of Food Tech at Revo Foods.

One major achievement for the firm is that THE FILET, as it styles the food item, will be sold in REWE stores. REWE is a major retailer, generating €84 billion in revenue, and is Germany’s second-largest supermarket chain. THE FILET will be available in 500 locations starting today. The product will carry a NutriScore of A, which is a positive development. The company states that THE FILET contains no cholesterol, gluten, or sugar, but is packed with protein and vitamins such as B6, B9, and B12. Since B12 cannot be obtained from plants, its inclusion is a real benefit, especially for vegans.

It’s great that they avoided adding sugar to the product and limited cholesterol. It would have been easy to make it a sugary, unhealthy item, but keeping it healthy is a smart choice for their market and for everyone in the long term. If they can make their products both tasty and healthy, they could position themselves as a premium health brand. Many good habits require people to cut back or give up certain foods, but if Revo can create delicious, nutritious options, it could attract a lot of interest.

At the same time, it seems they should consider producing nutritious hot dogs or bacon. Imagine a guilty pleasure food with no cholesterol or sugar—high-fiber, B12-enriched bacon, for instance. Instead of taking a multivitamin, people could enjoy a slice of bacon. “Timmy, have you had your hot dog today?” could work wonders for so many people. It’s surprising there’s such a focus on steak and fish when they could be making these kinds of innovative, health-focused indulgences.