In an industry where innovation is key to meeting the growing demand for sustainable and nutritious alternatives, Tim Leclercq and his co-founder Marcel have developed a groundbreaking product that’s changing the game. As Co-Founder and CEO of Maïzly, Tim has led the creation of a non-GMO corn-based plant milk that mirrors the creamy mouth-feel and natural taste of dairy, while offering a versatile alternative for a wide range of applications. The company's sustainable approach ensures minimal waste and maximizes the impact of each ingredient, making Maïzly a frontrunner in eco-conscious food production.
Developing the product was far more challenging than we anticipated. It took well over 100 iterations to perfect it and get to where we are today, but we now believe we have a highly competitive product. It has several unique characteristics that we believe set it apart from other plant-based milks.
The most important aspect, of course, is taste, and our product has a complementary flavor profile that doesn’t alter the taste of your tea, coffee, or cereal. It has the same mouthfeel and opacity as dairy milk, with that familiar white color and creamy texture. Given these features, we believe this product can bring plant-based milk to a wider audience, especially those who may have previously avoided it due to taste or the impact on their tea or coffee.
From a functional perspective, we aimed to create a product that could do everything dairy milk does. Our milk froths beautifully, creating micro-bubbles that provide a stable foam for cappuccinos, unlike other plant-based options that often collapse soon after frothing. It also whitens tea and coffee well and is excellent for baking and cooking—cakes rise nicely and stay moist, making it a versatile choice for any recipe requiring milk.
Nutritionally, corn is one of the best fiber sources, which plays a critical role in calcium absorption, blood sugar maintenance, digestion, and even mental health. In the U.S., less than 5% of the population consumes the daily recommended amount of fiber, so we believe our high-fiber content is a significant health advantage. We use coconut oil as our fat source, avoiding seed, nut, or vegetable oils, which are generally less healthy. Coconut oil is one of the healthiest plant oils, along with olive and avocado oil, and it benefits skin, teeth, hair, and overall complexion.
For protein, we’ve added chickpea protein, which is one of the most complete plant-based proteins, containing all but one essential amino acid chain. It’s easily absorbed by the body compared to many other plant-based proteins. We have also fortified our recipe with vitamins, A, D2, E and calcium. Finally, our product contains about a quarter of the sugar of regular dairy milk, making it a healthier choice. All ingredients are non-GMO; and being gluten, lactose, and allergen-free, it can be consumed by all.
From a sustainability perspective, corn actually uses the least amount of land and water per ton of produce compared to any other crop in the world, making it highly sustainable. Additionally, because corn is the most abundant crop globally, we can source it close to our markets, which helps reduce food miles. Our process is designed so that all ingredients, including water, are fully incorporated into the final product, resulting in zero waste in our production process. This gives us a strong sustainability story.
Beyond our original Maisy product, we’ve also introduced a flavored range. We’ve launched with Maisy Chocolate, which has a rich, creamy mouthfeel, and we’ve also created a custard and an eggnog flavor. We’re currently preparing to launch the custard flavor in the UK market.
