New Roots is expanding its range of plant-based cheese alternatives with the launch of Le Gratiné, a grated cheese alternative specifically designed for hot dishes such as pizza, pasta, lasagna, tacos, and gratins. The product is made from locally sourced organic lupine beans and, according to the company, melts, stretches, and browns when heated.
Lupine as a regional protein source
New Roots uses protein-rich sweet lupine as its functional base, combining it with traditional cheese-making techniques and fermentation processes. Working directly with farms, the company reports that in 2025 it helped breed, cultivate, and harvest approximately 90 tons of lupins in Switzerland and Germany.
There has been growing recognition of the crop over the past few years. Swiss development foundation Biovision has named sweet lupin its Superfood of the Year 2026, citing its protein content, soil health benefits, and potential to support biodiversity.
Soil health and agricultural diversity
Co-founder Freddy Hunziker commented: “If we want a food system that is better for animals, people, farmers and the climate, we have to start with the soil. Lupins give us a way to create high-quality plant-based food while supporting agricultural diversity here in Switzerland and nearby regions.”
New Roots, founded in 2015 and based in Oberdiessbach, distributes across Switzerland, Germany, France, the UK, and the Netherlands.
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