MicroLub

MicroLub is a deep-tech food ingredients company spun out of the University of Leeds, founded by Professor Anwesha Sarkar to commercialise a decade of research into how food lubricates — and how that process can be reimagined to make food healthier without sacrificing the sensory experience people expect. The company is headquartered in Leeds and operates at the intersection of colloid science, alternative protein technology, and sustainable food manufacturing.

The problem MicroLub addresses is structural: fats and oils are embedded throughout the food system not primarily for calories, but for texture, mouthfeel, and what food scientists call ‘lubricity’ — the creamy, rich, or succulent sensation that makes food satisfying to eat. Existing fat replacers have largely failed because they cannot replicate this sensory performance. Meanwhile, obesity costs the global health system over $4 trillion annually, and the alternative protein industry has long struggled to make plant-based foods palatable enough for mass adoption. MicroLub was founded to solve both problems at once.

The company’s technology involves protein-and-water ‘scaffolds’ coated with polysaccharides, engineered to behave like natural fat in the mouth. The scaffolds interact with saliva, tongue surfaces, and food structures to deliver the same creamy, full-fat sensation — enabling manufacturers to reduce the fat content of their products by up to 75% with no noticeable change to taste or texture. The platform is applicable across dairy, baked goods, condiments, plant-based meat, and other high-fat product categories, and is compatible with existing food manufacturing infrastructure as a drop-in ingredient solution.

MicroLub already has commercial traction with ingredients giants and major food and dairy companies in Europe, the US, and the UK. In October 2024, the company closed a £3.5 million seed round led by Northern Gritstone, with co-investors LIFTT and NPIF II – Praetura Equity Finance. The capital is being used to scale the technology with co-manufacturing partners, advance product development across new applications, and grow the team.