The Mills Fabrica Celebrates Nukoko’s Next Chapter with Döhler

(June 22, 2026) The Mills Fabrica is delighted to share an exciting milestone from its investment portfolio: Nukoko, a UK-based startup developing cocoa-free chocolate ingredients, has been acquired by global ingredients company Döhler.  

This announcement marks a crucial step forward not only for Nukoko, but also for the broader industry’s recognition of the importance of a sustainable and resilient cocoa supply chain amidst environmental and supply chain pressures. It also represents The Mills Fabrica’s first agrifood exit within its investment portfolio and exemplifies our continued commitment to supporting impactful, science-driven solutions through both capital and platform access. 

Nukoko’s technology platform: Cocoa-free ingredient platform using fava bean fermentation 

Founded in 2022 by serial chocolate entrepreneurs Ross Newton and Kit Tomlinson, alongside plant biologist Professor David Salt, Nukoko has developed a proprietary technology to create a chocolate alternative using ingredients beyond the cocoa bean, most notably fava beans.

At a time when the global cocoa sector is facing increasing volatility, cost pressures, and climate-related risks, Nukoko’s platform offers a compelling alternative. By decoupling chocolate inputs from traditional cocoa supply chains and leveraging abundant ingredients such as fava beans, its technology enables a more resilient and scalable pathway for chocolate production—while maintaining the flavour and texture that consumers love. 

Co-founders of Nukoko (from left to right): Kit Tomlinson, Professor David Salt and Ross Newton

Döhler strategic partnership: Strong signal for industry adoption and scale 

Nukoko’s journey with Döhler began as a strategic partnership rooted in a shared ambition to accelerate the development of cocoa-free chocolate alternatives. 

The evolution of this partnership into an acquisition reflects something broader: growing recognition across the food industry that the challenges facing the cocoa supply chain are structural, and that ingredient innovation will be critical to address them. As climate pressures, supply volatility, and rising costs continue to impact cocoa, large-scale industry players are increasingly looking beyond traditional sourcing models toward scalable, technology-driven alternatives.  

Döhler’s decision to bring Nukoko’s platform in-house signals strong conviction that cocoa-free solutions are not a niche innovation, but an emerging category with real commercial relevance. By integrating fermentation-based technologies like Nukoko’s, global ingredient companies are positioning themselves to help manufacturers adapt to shifting supply dynamics while maintaining product quality and consistency.  

The Mills Fabrica: Our continued commitment to frontier agrifood innovation 

The Mills Fabrica first invested in Nukoko as part of its US$1.5 million seed round in 2024, alongside Oyster Bay Venture Capital and SOSV, recognising early on the transformative potential of its technology to support a more sustainable and resilient food system. 

Beyond capital, our role has been to support Nukoko at an early stage of category creation—backing its vision to reimagine chocolate through science and helping to spotlight the broader need for innovation within the cocoa supply chain. For example, Nukoko was one of the twelve featured startups at our Inaugural Agrifood Exhibition at Fabrica X UK in 2025.  

As Nukoko enters its next phase with Döhler, we are excited to see its impact expand globally. We remain focused on supporting the next generation of breakthrough innovations shaping a more sustainable future of food.