Perfect Day Founders: Ryan Pandya and Perumal Gandhi

Perfect Day Foods named to fast company’s annual list of the world’s most innovative companies

Sustainable, animal-free dairy maker earns a top spot

Almonds, soy, cashew: Nowadays there are so many different types of milk it’s hard to keep track of them all. Now, one Silicon Valley food technology start-up is hoping to add one more version to the mix. Berkeley, California-based Perfect Day Foods is pioneering “synthetic milk,” a dairy-free alternative to the breakfast mainstay that claims to resemble — and taste — just like the original.

Perfect Day is less for the Silicon Valley Soylent seeking tech foodie and more for the eco-friendly or vegan consumer. The company is eyeing either milk, cheese, or yogurt as being part of its inaugural lineup of dairy-free alternatives. The company’s dairy offerings are lactose-free, and they use 98 percent less water in production, according to a study performed by a team of conservation biologists.

Perfect Day produces animal-free dairy proteins through fermentation, a biotech process that enables the company to eliminate the environmental and animal welfare concerns that come from using cows. The proteins, which are molecularly identical to those produced by cows, can then be used in making dairy products like ice cream and cheese.

While the water use, land use, and greenhouse emissions are key environmental benefits to their manufacturing styles, Perfect Day will initially target organic food eaters, before ultimately trying to lower prices below most milk products available on store shelves.

In 2020, Perfect Day introduced this innovation to a mass consumer audience through Brave Robot, the pioneering animal-free dairy ice cream, and partnerships with other beloved ice cream brands Graeter’s and Nick’s. By Spring 2021, products made with Perfect Day will be in more than 5,000 grocery stores, and available nationwide direct-to-consumer, so everyone can enjoy the dairy foods they love without compromising on nutrition, sustainability, and animal welfare.

“Perfect Day has dedicated the last seven years to leading the way in animal-free protein technology, so it’s incredible for Fast Company to recognize our commitment to creating a kinder, greener future as we look to create a new animal-free category of foods,” said Ryan Pandya, Perfect Day CEO, and co-founder.

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