Solveat & CBC develop functional drinks powered by patented botanical formulations

Israeli food-tech start-up Solveat has sealed an investment-based joint development and commercial agreement with The Central Bottling Company (CBC Group), a multinational beverages company. This long-term collaboration is designed to focus on developing functional beverages infused with Solveat’s patented natural herbal formulations.

Under the new partnership, Solveat and CBC’s juice concentrates and fruit-based solutions subsidiary Gat Foods will create a new line of soft drinks that target a range of health and wellness categories, including metabolic support, blood sugar control, and more, leveraging Solveat’s naturally derived botanical compositions.

CBC will play a key role in manufacturing and commercializing the branded products, granting Solveat access to Gat Foods’ global customer network.

R&D will be carried out in Solveat facilities, in collaboration with the CORE—CBC Group’s Open Innovation Center and clinicians from Sheba Medical Center.

“We’re committed to pioneering innovative products that align with modern trends and consumers’ wellness priorities,” states Yoram Sagy, CBC’s president. “We’re delighted to elevate soft drinks into functional beverages that are not only refreshing but also a daily source of well-being and vitality.”

Solving supplementation

Solveat developed an approach to nutritional supplementation by supercharging everyday foods with science-backed botanical ingredients. The start-up utilizes a proprietary phyto-delivery platform that enables the integration of its clinically-validated herbal compositions into ordinary foods such as snack bars, cereals, chocolates, soft drinks, and more without altering the sensory elements of “indulging.”

Plant-based bioactive compositions tailored for specific health categories draw upon longstanding herbal knowledge and undergo rigorous laboratory evaluation to validate their efficacy and safety. This is followed by careful extraction of the characterized bioactives and microencapsulation to make them fit for inclusion into functional foods.

“Botanicals naturally bring bold flavors with bitter undertones, which makes infusing them into food and drink challenging,” explains Zacki Nudelman, PhD, co-founder, CBO, and scientific affairs officer for Solveat. “We apply a proprietary multi-ingredient microencapsulation technology that not only effectively masks any bitterness but also is heat resistant, preserving the functional compounds, maintaining their bioactivity, and allowing controlled release.”

Unique to Solveat’s microencapsulation technology is that it can enclose a complete herbal composition made up of several botanicals, versus the standard encapsulation of a single ingredient. Solveat’s functional ingredients offer seamless “plug-and-play” compatibility for a broad spectrum of liquid and solid food applications.

The companies use a proprietary multi-ingredient microencapsulation technology that masks bitterness and preserves the functionality of ingredients. (Credit: Solveat)Science-backed botanicals ready for pilot sales

Solveat is prepped for pilot sales of its first functional composition, designed to support blood-sugar balance starting early in 2026. The formula is currently undergoing clinical assessment. Solveat also has ingredients for immune support and metabolic wellness in the pipeline.

The company’s platform is already operating on an industrial scale, with the capacity to produce approximately 600 metric tons of its ingredients per year through contract manufacturers.

“We are grateful to team up with such an influential player in the global beverage arena,” comments Udi Peretz, CEO and co-founder of Solveat. “Our shared vision is to introduce a new generation of soft drinks that are as delightfully quenching as this category is meant to be, yet with unique wellness value. We will create a line of still beverages that not only address metabolic issues but deliver wellness benefits within an enjoyable consumer experience.”

Responding to demand for better-for-you beverages

Innova Market Insights data indicates that 68% of global consumers view botanical flavor ingredients as sustainable. The use of botanicals in food and beverage launches is growing worldwide, with 45% occurring in Europe. Beverages, bakery, and confectionery applications are the leading categories for botanical ingredient introductions. 

The market researcher’s data also indicates that health is a top priority for consumers worldwide, with 78% saying eating healthy foods is essential. Data shows that from July 2020 to June 2025, global F&B launches featuring health claims grew by 2%, particularly in the Soft Drink, Bakery, and Dairy categories.