Vita Pizza with Potato Cheezz wins over school canteens

Vita Pizza with Potato Cheezz wins over school canteens

In 2022, Aviko Rixona introduced Potato Cheezz – the world’s first plant-based cheese alternative made from potatoes. Three years on, this innovation is gaining serious traction. Potato Cheezz is winning international awards and is now being used by leading food producers. A great example is our collaboration with QME Food Innovations and caterer Innergy. Together, we’re now supplying the so-called Vita Pizza to around 70 schools across the Netherlands. 

“The pizza has been a big success,” says Lucas Metsaars, Business Development Manager at Aviko Rixona. “In blind taste tests, kids even preferred it over a classic Margherita.” But Vita Pizza is more than just a pizza. The base is made from 100% whole wheat flour, topped with a Mediterranean tomato sauce and Potato Cheezz. Thanks to a refined fermentation process, the crust tastes just like a traditional pizza—without the typical whole grain aftertaste. It’s packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and meets all the guidelines of the Netherlands Nutrition Centre and JOGG (Youth at a Healthy Weight). “And most importantly,” Lucas adds, “it just tastes really good.” 

A sustainable choice with a low carbon footprint 

Taste and health matter—but so does sustainability. Potato Cheezz has an impressively low CO₂ footprint. While traditional cheese production emits an average of 6 to 10 kilograms of CO₂ equivalent per kilo (depending on the type), all three Potato Cheezz variants stay below 1 kilogram. “A fantastic result,” says Lucas, “and perfectly aligned with global efforts to reduce climate impact.” 

More plant-based innovation 

Potato Cheezz shows that plant-based potential goes far beyond what we currently know. At Aviko Rixona and our parent company Cosun, we’re actively developing new plant-based alternatives. One recent example is TexaPure—an ingredient that can be used as an optimizer in both meat and plant-based products. “With TexaPure, producers can reduce the meat content in their products by up to 15%,” Lucas explains. “That not only lowers the CO₂ footprint and costs, but also improves taste and mouthfeel.” 

Vita Pizza for everyone 

And Vita Pizza? It’s not just for schools. “The good news is that the pizza is available to any food provider across Europe and the UK,” says Lucas. “School canteens, company restaurants, sports clubs, amusement parks, hospitality—you name it. The pizza weighs 140 grams, is Ready to Heat, and suitable for all ages. With or without extra toppings.”