MANE licenses Arzeda’s Reb M tech, acquires US citrus firm Cvista
MANE, the French flavour and fragrance group, has moved to strengthen two strategic categories in quick succession, securing an exclusive global licence for Arzeda’s ViaLeaf™ Reb M sweetener technology and acquiring Florida-based citrus specialist Cvista, as it builds out its sugar-reduction and citrus platforms.
MANE secures exclusive rights to Reb M technology
On 14 July 2026, MANE announced it had acquired an exclusive global licence to produce and commercialise Arzeda’s ViaLeaf Reb M, described as a process built on Nobel Prize-winning technology. The agreement extends a partnership between the two companies first announced in March 2026 and gives MANE control of the Reb M value chain from production through to commercialisation.
Reb M is regarded as one of the more desirable steviol glycosides for its clean, sugar-like sweetness and neutral flavour profile. Arzeda’s protein design technology is intended to alter the economics of Reb M production, while MANE’s manufacturing base is expected to support large-scale supply.
“This new step in our partnership with Arzeda reflects our commitment to delivering innovative, high-performance solutions to our customers,” said Samantha Mane, CEO of the MANE Group. “By combining Arzeda’s breakthrough technology with MANE’s production, flavor creation, application and commercial expertise, we can now offer the market a fully integrated Reb M solution that delivers outstanding taste performance and competitive economics.”
Alexandre Zanghellini, PhD, CEO of Arzeda, said: “MANE is uniquely positioned to unlock the full potential of ViaLeaf Reb M, the first-ever product enabled by AI-driven protein design to reach the market. By entrusting MANE with production and commercialization, we are combining Arzeda’s innovation capabilities with MANE’s global scale and industry leadership to accelerate the adoption of next-generation sweetening solutions worldwide.”
Cvista acquisition builds US citrus and beverage hub
On 2 September 2026, MANE announced the acquisition of Cvista, a US supplier of citrus oil fractions and natural essences based in Riverview, Florida. The deal will see MANE establish a global Citrus and Beverage Center of Excellence at the site, drawing on Cvista’s teams, facilities and technical expertise.
Cvista, founded in 2010 by Hadi Lashkajani, operates across the citrus value chain, from raw material sourcing to the fractionation of flavour compounds. Its capabilities include purifying trace compounds such as valencene, decanal and nootkatone, alongside distillation, extraction, resin-based processing and molecular distillation. The company currently serves around 130 customers worldwide, with particular expertise in ingredients derived from orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit and apple.
MANE said the new centre would bring it closer to key citrus sourcing regions and support development work across functional and reduced-sugar beverages, an area where it noted potential overlap with the Arzeda partnership on Reb M.
“This acquisition is a strategic catalyst for MANE’s growth in citrus, particularly in the beverage sector. Cvista is a recognized leader with a proven ability to transform natural raw materials into high-value ingredients,” said Samantha Mane, president of MANE Group. “We are delighted to welcome their team to MANE, uniting our capabilities and shared commitment to sensory excellence. This acquisition will strengthen our leadership in citrus solutions and accelerate the development of exceptional ingredients, backed by cutting-edge science, for our customers.”
A combined push into sugar reduction and citrus
Taken together, the two announcements point to a coordinated push by MANE into adjacent areas of formulation science: alternative sweeteners and citrus-derived flavour ingredients, both of which feed directly into beverage development. The Reb M licence gives the company a proprietary route into natural sugar reduction, while the Cvista acquisition adds specialised citrus fractionation capacity and a dedicated US production base.
MANE Group, an independent, family-owned company, ranks first in France and among the top five flavour and fragrance companies worldwide. It operates 52 R&D centres and 31 production sites, employing more than 8,500 people across 41 countries, and has been a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact since 2003.
