Fermentis by Lesaffre, a global leader in fermentation solutions, has announced the successful completion of a major technological upgrade at its Algist Bruggeman facility in Ghent, Belgium. The state-of-the-art improvements have significantly enhanced the microbiological quality of its active dry beer yeast and introduced a suite of smart packaging innovations aimed squarely at solving real-world brewer challenges.
“This is a very important milestone in our business development, addressing your needs,” said Stéphane Meulemans, General Manager at Fermentis. “We are improving, all across the board, the quality of our beer yeast to a level never attained before by the industry.”
At the heart of the upgrade is a groundbreaking improvement in microbiological standards. Fermentis now offers yeast with a cross-contaminant presence at least two logs lower than any other commercially available active dry beer yeast.
“This new facility has allowed us to raise the quality of our yeast to new standards, unheard of in the industry,” Meulemans added.
To match this leap in product integrity, Fermentis has also launched an entirely new packaging and marking system.
Jeanne Gallerand, Global Marketing & Communication Manager at Fermentis, explained the customer-driven focus.
“If you are passionate about beer and quality is second nature to you, this message is for you,” she said. “Not only have we maintained the exceptional microbiological quality you expect from us, but we have also made significant upgrades to the packaging and labelling, all designed with your real-world needs in mind.”
Among the changes is the introduction of the Percy™ patented piercing device, designed to support sterile yeast implementation directly into fermenters. Each sachet also features an Easy-To-Open label that creates a clean, controlled environment for pitching.
“The new easy to open packaging guarantees brewers have a sterile way to pitch the yeast directly into the wort,” said Olivier Caille, Technical Manager at Fermentis. “This new innovation reduces any chance of external contamination.”
Three separate implementation tools were developed to suit a range of brewery scales – from removable stainless-steel tools for craft operations, to inline sterile systems adapted for industrial breweries.
The packaging redesign also enhances traceability and regulatory compliance.
“Each package now features a unique QR code giving you instant access to product details and improving traceability across the board,” said Gallerand. “And since brewing is a global passion and the world is rich with languages and cultures, we have introduced a booklet label that supports multilingual information, so nothing gets lost in translation.”
Fermentis has also begun offering customised secondary labels, shifting from a make-to-stock (MTS) model to make-to-order (MTO), allowing breweries to receive yeast with country- or customer-specific markings. A new 2.5 kg format has been added to accommodate the needs of growing breweries.
The production revamp includes new dry yeast transport systems, line-cleaning innovations, an intelligent camera-based quality control process, and an automated interim storage facility that supports MTO orders.
“Our goal is to ensure you get exactly the info you need as clearly and simply as possible,” Gallerand said. “We’ve packed a lot of innovation into this launch, and we can’t wait for you to discover it.”
Fermentis remains committed to working hand-in-hand with brewers to deliver fermentation solutions that are smarter, safer, and better aligned with evolving market needs.
Meulemans summed up the project with a toast: “I will raise a glass to your success.”
Click here to explore Fermentis’ superior yeast innovations and see how they can elevate your brew.