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Austrian food-tech company Revo Foods has launched Cottage Protein+, a chilled, fermented plant-based alternative to cottage cheese made from apricot kernels.

The new product contains 17g of protein per 150g cup and is made with four natural ingredients: soft apricot kernels, water, salt and vegan cultures. Cottage Protein+ is made using 40% soft apricot kernels, which are fermented with live cultures.

According to Revo Foods, the fermentation process creates the product’s characteristic grainy texture and flavour, while differentiating it from many existing plant-based fresh products that rely on ingredients such as coconut fat, starch and thickeners.

The company said the product contains 11.5% protein and derives its fat entirely from the natural oil in the apricot kernels, with no added fats. Its fat profile is described by Revo Foods as similar to that of olive oil and rich in unsaturated fatty acids.

The launch comes as demand for high-protein products continues to shape Germany’s chilled fresh category. Revo Foods said cottage cheese sales in Germany have nearly doubled over the past three years, while consumers are increasingly seeking natural and sustainable sources of protein.

David Petuzzi, CEO of Revo Foods, said: “We stand for healthy proteins. That is the thread running from our fungi protein through to Cottage Protein+: We use fermentation as a tool to turn natural raw materials into foods that deliver real nutrition and taste great.”

The product also aims to address food waste by using apricot kernels generated as a by-product of fruit processing. Revo Foods said large quantities of kernels arise from the production of jam, juice and dried fruit, with much of the material currently discarded or incinerated. By using the kernels as its primary raw material, the company said Cottage Protein+ can make use of an existing food-processing side stream without requiring additional farmland.

Niccolò Galizzi, head of food tech at Revo Foods, said: “Most plant-based fresh products aren't fermented; they're formulated. With Cottage Protein+, the fermentation cultures do the work for us.”

Cottage Protein+ is vegan and refrigerated and will be sold in a 150g cup across EDEKA and REWE stores in Germany from September 2026.

The launch is the latest development from Revo Foods, which was founded in Vienna in 2021 and specialises in technologies for protein-rich foods. The company opened its Taste Factory in 2024, described by the business as the world’s first industrial production facility for 3D food extrusion technology.