NEW TECH FOODS

Fork & Good has announced the acquisition of fellow cultivated meat company Orbillion, combining their respective expertise in cultivated pork and beef to create what the companies describe as a cost-effective platform for red meat production.

The merger brings together two firms with operations and customers across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. According to Fork & Good, the combined entity will hold one of the largest intellectual property portfolios in the cultivated meat sector.

Niya Gupta, co-founder and CEO of Fork & Good, said the acquisition strengthens the company’s global reach. "We're already working with customers in North America and East Asia and are excited to bring Orbillion's relationships in Europe and the Middle East online," she said. "We're not asking food manufacturers to wait five to ten years for supply chain solutions – we're giving them the ability to improve their products and create that resilience right now."

The deal comes amid ongoing food supply pressures linked to tariffs, trade disputes and logistics disruptions. Fork & Good said the acquisition will allow the company to offer manufacturers greater supply chain diversification, shortening livestock lead times and providing functional ingredients to enhance taste, shelf life and clean label appeal.

Both companies already have commercial agreements with major food producers, including Luiten Food. “Serving the customer of the future requires innovation,” said Luiten Food CEO Lennert Luiten. “Our vision is to integrate Fork and Good’s cultivated meat with familiar meat and plant-based options, paving the way for a new generation of products that satisfy our taste buds and support a sustainable future."

Fork & Good has developed a streamlined process for producing pork muscle cells, while Orbillion was among the first to scale beef muscle cell cultivation. The merger aims to reduce costs and expand the range of available products to meet different regional regulations.

Operations will continue from Fork & Good’s pilot plant in Jersey City, New Jersey, with Orbillion’s UAE subsidiary serving as a base for Middle Eastern markets.

Gabor Forgacs, co-founder and CSO of Fork & Good, stated: “We learned the lesson the hard way, when launching Modern Meadow, the first cultivated meat company, thinking technology is all and customers follow. We now know better, and this acquisition allows us to widen our customer base and the technological repertoire that is needed to accomplish this.”

The combined company will pursue a margin-first approach, aiming to demonstrate techno-economic viability at mid-scale before expanding further. Fork & Good said the integration positions it to deliver a wider product portfolio and stronger partnerships with food manufacturers.

Orbillion’s CEO Patricia Bubner will join Fork & Good as chief operating officer. ““The combination of our strengths allows us to deliver greater value to our customers by offering a broader portfolio of products and a stronger foundation for long-term partnership,” she highlighted.

Top image: © Fork & Good