Nepra Foods (OTCQB: NPRFF) announced that it is partnering with a national US bread company to offer the first product made with Nepra-owned vegan egg replacements.
The gluten-free products will initially be distributed to more than 2,600 retailers nationwide, including Kroger, Publix and Meijer stores.
“There is literally no application for which we cannot develop a specific formula.”
According to Nepra, which makes a full line of vegan egg replacement formulations, the new product removes the last remaining allergen (egg) from the ingredients list. Described as “indistinguishable” from its wheat-based counterpart, gluten-free bread has a 28-day ambient shelf life and reduced carbohydrate profile.
Nepra’s initial formula will be used in white and multigrain breads, before expanding to other gluten-free product offerings. The company said it would retain ownership of the formulation, allowing it to license or partner with other leading bakeries.
“Not only does this product allow allergens and animal products to be removed from the ingredient list, it also addresses the fivefold increase in egg prices over the past year,” commented Chadwick White, CEO of Nepra Foods. “Not only does it offer a superior replacement for conventional eggs, it is also more price competitive with less inherent price volatility and significantly more stable product supply.”
50% cost reduction
In 2022, US egg prices increased by a staggering 530%, driven by a devastating outbreak of avian flu and rising costs for inputs such as animal feed, packaging and transport. According to Nepra, powdered eggs are a critical ingredient for both conventional and gluten-free bakeries, and the company’s egg-free formulations offer a 50% cost reduction (vs. chicken eggs), saving more than 20% in final product cost. .
Versatile option
Nepra says its egg replacement formulations provide a vegetarian, non-allergenic, direct alternative to chicken eggs at a fraction of the cost, while offering strong pricing and supply stability.
The company adds that its ingredients can be used to produce a wide range of products, from baked goods to condiments and sauces. For its first commercial application, Nepra chose to focus on the gluten-free baking industry due to its extensive management network and expertise in this area.
Revolutionary Baking
“Our products developed with egg replacements have superior properties for gluten-free applications, presenting a product that is shelf-stable under ambient conditions, with the structural characteristics of conventional gluten-enriched bread but maintains superior product quality for over 28 days,” says White. . There is literally no application for which we cannot create specific formulations – it truly has the potential to revolutionize the baking and ingredient business as we know it!”