About
Our story
Fermtech was founded on a simple belief: we can unlock more value from every harvest.
Using natural Koji fermentation, we transform fibrous agricultural side streams such as cocoa shells into high-performing ingredients with exceptional taste, functionality and commercial performance.
Our ingredients help chocolate, bakery and food manufacturers reduce cost, strengthen supply chain resilience and lower environmental impact by making more of what has already been grown.
Andy Clayton, CEO
Our vision
Save 5 million tonnes of CO2, emissions by 2040.
By replacing the equivalent of 2.5 million tonnes of cocoa – enough for approximately 10 billion chocolate bars – with naturally fermented ingredients, we aim to help build a more resilient, lower-carbon food system.
Our team
Andy Clayton
CEO
Our Founder, Andy, is a biologist and experienced entrepreneur who leads the company day to day.
James Brace
CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER
James has over 20 years experience leading ingredient sales. He leads our key customer and partner relationships and makes sure the world hears about our great products.
Maddy Kennedy
Chief Financial Officer
Maddy is a highly experienced life sciences CFO, from startups to listed companies, and leads our financial planning, governance, and fundraising.
Dr Alastair McGinness
Product Development Director
Alastair is a chef, biologist, and food science expert. He leads our applications development and works with our customers on integrating our ingredients into their products.
Iain Argyle
Production Director
Iain’s experience lies is developing new-to-world food and biotech processes. His main expertise and focus at Fermtech is leading process scale-up to deliver cost-effective production.
Tomas Generalovic
Head of Process Scale-Up
Tom is a biotechnologist with experience in novel food and feed technologies. He leads scale-up at Fermtech, translating fermentation technologies from the lab into commercially viable production systems.
Dr Shahneawz Khan
Head of R&D
Shahneawz is our senior scientist, he coordinates our R&D and product development.
Alokika Sangwan
Fermentation Scientist
Alokika is a fermentation and cocoa alternatives expert and design and runs our fermentation research.
Dave Burgin
DSP Scientist
Dave is a Downstream Processing expert who designs and runs our key extraction processes. Dave also specialises on IP and QC, making sure our innovation is protected and products consistently safe.
Kishan Assani
FINANCIAL CONTROLLER
Kishan is an accomplished Financial Controller with over 12 years of experience driving financial strategy and operational efficiency within software, medtech and legaltech sectors.
Stephen Catling
Strategic Advisor
Stephen Catling has been a senior leader within the global food industry for over 30 years, including as CEO of ABF Ingredients and President at Danisco. Stephen guides the company on strategy, growth, and technological development.