About

The future of food needs new ways of thinking about how ingredients are made, sourced and used.

At LOOOPS, we are reimagining food ingredients through biotechnology and circular innovation, transforming underused resources into functional, high-value solutions for a better food system.

The industry problem

But sugar is about more than sweetness. In food formulations, it plays a key functional role, contributing to structure, consistency, texture, and the overall sensory experience.

This is why many of the alternatives currently available are not enough. They may replace sweetness, but they do not always replicate the functional role of sugar within the recipe.

LOOOPS was born to bridge this gap.

Sugar alternatives still come with trade-offs

Companies looking to reduce sugar often face a difficult balancing act.

On one hand, they need to develop products that are lighter, more transparent, and better aligned with evolving market expectations. On the other, they risk losing what makes a product truly desirable: taste, texture, consistency, and enjoyment.

Many of the solutions currently available come with technical or sensory limitations. Some alter taste perception, others do not meet clean-label expectations, while others fail to deliver the same technological performance as sugar.

The result is a complex challenge for R&D, innovation, and product development teams.

A sweet, functional ingredient.

BITELOOP is the first ingredient developed by LOOOPS.

It is a multifunctional sweetening ingredient produced through fermentation.

Unlike many traditional sugar alternatives, BITELOOP is not designed simply to provide sweetness. It is also engineered to contribute to the technological functionality of the formulation, supporting properties such as texture, structure, and overall sensory quality.

In addition, BITELOOP adds nutritional value through components such as fiber, protein, and functional compounds.

From agri-food by-products to high-value ingredients

Our process starts by upcycling underutilized agri-food by-products.

Through fermentation, these resources are transformed into new functional ingredients for the food industry.

It is a circular approach that creates value at multiple levels: reducing waste, making better use of existing raw materials, and creating new opportunities for our suppliers. At the same time, it unlocks new possibilities for developing more advanced food products, contributing to a more sustainable and future-ready food system.

Meet the team

Ylenia Ciquera
Ylenia Ciquera
Co-founder & CMO
LinkedIn
Martina Ragazzo
Martina Ragazzo
Co-founder & CTO
LinkedIn
Edoardo Ditto
Edoardo Ditto
Co-founder & CEO
LinkedIn

Our advisors

Raffaella Di Cagno
Raffaella Di Cagno
Director of the International Competence Center for Food Fermentations (ICOFF)
Marco Gobbetti
Marco Gobbetti
Leader of the Competence Center on International Center on Food Fermentations (ICOFF)

Our ecosystem

unibz
eit-Food
NOI techpark
Startlife

Food science, fermentation, and real-world applications

LOOOPS bridges biotech research with the real-world needs of the food and beverage industry.

Our goal is to develop innovative yet practical ingredients, designed to be integrated into food formulations, production processes, and product strategies.

That is why our approach goes beyond scientific research: we focus on scalability, formulation, and collaboration with industrial partners to bring our solutions to market.

What makes it different

Clean-label 01

Designed to meet the growing demand for more understandable ingredients and greater formulation transparency.

Multifunctional 02

It goes beyond sweetness, also supporting the technological and sensory properties of the formulation.

Circular 03

Made by upcycling food by-products through an innovative process.

Improved nutrition 04

Designed to contribute to the product’s nutritional profile through fiber, protein, and functional components.

B2B-oriented 05

Developed for food & beverage companies, R&D teams, innovation managers, and industrial partners.

Collaborative 06

Developed to respond to the needs of food companies, supporting new formulations from the initial idea through to real-world application.

Curious to explore its potential?

Working on sugar-reduced formulations?

Whether you’re a food & beverage company, R&D team, or industrial partner, let’s explore how BITELOOP could support your next product.

Let’s talk.

Contact us