French precision fermentation startup Bon Vivant has officially rebranded to Verley, introducing a new identity and launching a next-gen line of animal-free functional whey proteins under the banner FermWhey. The move signals the companyâs growing international ambition and continued innovation in the dairy alternative space, particularly in nutrition-focused and performance-oriented applications.
From Bon Vivant to Verley: A Nod to French Heritage
The name Verley draws inspiration from traditional dairy villages in France that often end in “-ey”, aligning the brand with its French roots while positioning it for global relevance. Based in Lyon, a region rich in dairy heritage, Verley aims to blend legacy with biotech to redefine the dairy protein landscape.
FermWhey: Three Functional Proteins, One Clear Vision
Verleyâs new FermWhey range is built around recombinant beta-lactoglobulin, the main protein in cow’s whey. This animal-free protein is created through precision fermentation and enhanced using Verleyâs patented MicroFactor and GelFactor technologies.
1. FermWhey Native
- Designed for nutritional excellence in high-protein beverages, powders, and snacks.
- Contains 11% more leucine than traditional whey isolate and 50% more than soy, supporting muscle synthesis, satiety, and weight management.
- Ideal for clear, acidic, and dairy-alternative drinks.
2. FermWhey MicroStab
- A microparticulated whey with high heat and acid stability, perfect for UHT beverages, low-fat, and high-protein formulations.
- Maintains creamy texture in reduced-fat products and supports weight management and sports nutrition use cases.
3. FermWhey Gel
- Offers advanced gelling properties for spoonable dairy products, desserts, and meal replacements.
- Replaces texturizing agents and stabilizers while maintaining structure and mouthfeelâeven at low inclusion rates.
Precision Meets Sustainability
Verleyâs process requires 81% less water, 99% less land, and emits 72% fewer greenhouse gases compared to traditional dairy protein productionâaccording to the startupâs life-cycle assessment.
Its proteins are tasteless, highly stable, and function across a wide pH and temperature range, solving key technical limitations faced by both dairy-derived and plant-based proteins.
Market-Ready Momentum
With $25 million raised, three patent families, and nine patents filed, Verley is scaling up with contract manufacturers and is in talks with global dairy and ingredient companies for commercial collaborations. It also claims to be the first company to apply functionalisation technologies to animal-free dairy proteins.
The FermWhey line is designed to cater to all age groupsâincluding infants and the elderlyâby enabling formulations that meet complex nutritional and processing needs without compromise.
Regulatory Landscape: Eyes on FDA
In December, Verley secured self-affirmed GRAS status (Generally Recognized as Safe) in the U.S. and has already notified the FDA for a formal review. Despite recent political pressure to tighten rules around self-GRAS declarations, Verley is confident it will receive a “no questions” letterâthe FDA’s official approvalâby the end of 2025.
âWe are still confident to receive the letter by the end of the year,â said co-founder and CEO StĂŠphane MacMillan, citing a similar timeline recently followed by Dutch peer Vivici.
Global Context
Verley joins a growing list of precision fermentation companies globallyâincluding Perfect Day (USA), Remilk (Israel), Vivici (Netherlands), and 21st.Bio (Denmark)âall racing to innovate in the clean-label, high-functionality protein space. However, Verley differentiates itself with its proprietary functionalisation tech, combining science with application-ready versatility.
Final Word
Verleyâs rebrand and FermWhey launch position it as a serious contender in the global dairy alternatives market. Its focus on nutrition, functionality, and sustainabilityâcombined with deep R&D capabilitiesâgives it a unique edge as demand for cleaner, high-performance proteins continues to rise across food, beverage, and supplement categories.
