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§ Private Profile · London
Plant-based food manufacturer creating dairy-free cheeses and cream products for retail and foodservice, focused on fermentation.
JULIENNE BRUNO has raised $7.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Key people at JULIENNE BRUNO.
JULIENNE BRUNO has raised $7.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
JULIENNE BRUNO, a London, UK-based company, develops and distributes naturally plant-based dairy-free cheeses and cream products. It secured £1 million in pre-seed funding and a further £5 million in a seed round. Its offerings, including Burrella® and Superstraccia®, were distributed across over 1,200 locations (400+ retail, 800+ foodservice) via partners like Selfridges, Whole Foods Market, Holland & Barrett, and Ocado. On November 11, 2025, JULIENNE BRUNO entered administration, with assets acquired by Harvey & Brockless (The Compleat Food Group); production will relocate to Evesham, Worcestershire, resuming in 2026. Axel Katalan founded the company in 2020. Its business model centers on sales through online shop, wholesalers, retailers , e-commerce, and direct to restaurants/pubs/cafes, funded by venture capital and angel investors via £1M pre-seed and £5M seed rounds.
# JULIENNE BRUNO: A Food Tech Company, Not a Technology Company
JULIENNE BRUNO is primarily a food technology company, not a traditional technology company. While the founder has a tech background, the company's core business is manufacturing and distributing plant-based, dairy-free fermented cheeses rather than building software or digital platforms.
JULIENNE BRUNO is a London-based food tech startup that creates dairy-free, plant-based fermented fresh cheeses[2]. The company operates both B2B and B2C business models, serving retailers, wholesalers, restaurants, and direct consumers through eCommerce and food delivery channels[3]. Rather than attempting to replicate traditional cheese, JULIENNE BRUNO crafts naturally plant-based products with a focus on taste and quality[4][5]. The company has achieved multi-international award recognition and is positioned to disrupt the dairy industry by reframing how consumers understand plant-based dairy products[4][5].
JULIENNE BRUNO was founded in 2020 by Axel Katalan, whose background includes co-founding Pointr, a tech venture that scaled internationally[2]. Katalan spent over seven years developing the concept before formalizing it during the first COVID-19 lockdown, investing eight months in early research and product development[2]. The founding team expanded to include Chi San as Head of Food and Alan Yau as board advisor, followed by Albert Adria as Head of Product Development[2]. The company raised a pre-seed round led by Seedcamp and Nicoya, then secured growth funding led by Cherry Ventures and Outsized VC[2]. Early traction came through online sales and partnerships with select retailers like Panzer's and Supermarket of Dreams, generating sufficient momentum to fuel expansion into nationwide restaurants and retailers[2].
JULIENNE BRUNO operates within the growing plant-based food sector, riding the trend toward sustainable, dairy-free alternatives. The timing is significant as consumer demand for plant-based products continues to expand, and the company's focus on taste—rather than health claims alone—positions it to appeal to mainstream food lovers rather than niche vegan audiences[6]. By combining fermentation science with plant-based ingredients, JULIENNE BRUNO addresses a gap in the market where many plant-based cheeses are perceived as inferior substitutes. The company's success in securing institutional venture funding and retail partnerships demonstrates investor confidence in the plant-based dairy category.
JULIENNE BRUNO is poised for significant growth as it expands distribution to nationwide retailers and restaurants with extended product collections[2]. The company's trajectory suggests a focus on scaling production capacity and market penetration rather than technological innovation in the software sense. Success will depend on maintaining product quality, managing supply chain complexity, and sustaining consumer interest in premium plant-based alternatives as the category matures. The founder's tech background may also position the company to leverage data analytics or direct-to-consumer digital channels more effectively than traditional food manufacturers.
Key people at JULIENNE BRUNO.
JULIENNE BRUNO has raised $7.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $6.0M Seed in November 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2022 | $6M Seed | Cherry Ventures | Acrew Capital, Faction VC, Mouro Capital, Notion Capital, Quona Capital, Seedcamp, David Mytton, Nicoya, Outsized Ventures | Announced |
| Jan 1, 2021 | $1M Seed | — | Notion Capital, Seedcamp, David Mytton | Announced |
JULIENNE BRUNO has raised $7.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
JULIENNE BRUNO's investors include Cherry Ventures, Acrew Capital, Faction VC, Mouro Capital, Notion Capital, Quona Capital, Seedcamp, David Mytton, Nicoya, Outsized Ventures.
