About us – Semela

Expertise

The distinct health & environmental advantages of plant nutrition are no secret, evident in the world-wide increase in investment in research and development of new meat, milk and egg-replacement forms of consumption and an ever-growing willingness of the population to change their habits to a more sustainable, vegetarian diet.

We spotted the growing demand for healthy & tasty food products as an opportunity and have specialised in producing versatile plant-based ingredients to satisfy that need along the food chain. Since 2011, Prista Commerce Ltd. has been building its expert knowledge in the food industry and expanding its range of products.

Its latest addition: the ‘Semela’ collection, harnesses plant properties in the most delicate of ways: through a reliable, modern extraction process, wasting no raw materials in its production.

Production Process

The seeds of choice are sorted by quality, peeled and partially de-oiled through a special cold pressing technique. Cold pressing is our extraction process of choice for the Semela oil range, because it allows maximum preservation of the essential qualities of plants. Due to the lack of external heat and absence of any chemicals or additives, this process retains the inherent benefits of the plant (e.g. antioxidants, Vitamins B, A & E, phytosterols, carotenoids, omega & folic acids, and minerals). The oil is then filtered only after the cold-pressing extraction process is complete. We do not offer refined oils as an end-product, and only specialise in natural and organic oils.

Thanks to our state-of-the-art technology, the seed cake from the press machine is processed under a specialized and unique conditions to produce our varieties of concentrated protein powder. We utilize any by-products in our production or rejected raw materials for farm animal feed, wild bird food or eco-pellets, maximising the use of all that nature has to offer.

Production Process

The entire production process takes place in our state-of-the art automated factory in Bulgaria, which our clients are welcome to visit. The premises are regularly audited by regulatory institutions, guaranteeing the process and product quality and safety. You can read more about this in our ‘Quality’ section. We also partner with external accredited laboratories, aiding us in quality assurance, content analysis and continuous product development.

Sustainability

The desire for a more sustainable, eco-friendly food industry has been at the heart of our organisation since the beginning. For one, our energy-efficient factory is based in the most agriculturally rich region of Bulgaria. From our product packaging, through maximum utilisation of our raw materials, all the way to finding the balance between cost-efficient, yet environmentally-conscious transportation routes of our goods to our client sites, we strive to make a positive impact along the food chain.

Our organic range of seeds, are a popular starting point for our long-term clients as they are sourced from ethical and ecologically friendly suppliers – contributing to more sustainable farming.

Sustainability

The bonus by-products of cold oil pressing, on the other hand, are utilized as pet, bird and animal feed. Reject raw materials such as seeds, peel, husk and oil are either recycled, repurposed or used for renewable green energy in the form of eco-pellets.

With the help of R&D institutes and eco-friendly partners and suppliers, we continue to optimise our production to ensure our environment is here for the generations after us.

Our choice of seeds and raw materials

We work exclusively with high-end sunflower, pumpkin and flax seeds as the base ingredients for all our organic and conventional product ranges. They are an excellent non-allergen alternative to other plant-based protein sources (e.g. soya, bean, nuts etc.), due to their taste and high protein content, suitable for the vegan and vegetarian diet, cosmetic and health nutrition industries. Our vision is to focus on tasty allergen- and GMO-free protein sources, which can be widely used across a range of tailored client solutions: from vegan sauces and salad-dressings, luxury pet food snacks, to boutique stabilising and texturizing ingredients of vegetarian burger patties and sausages. Sunflower kernels, pumpkin and flax are excellent basis for our healthy range of cold pressed oils and protein concentrates, which are a delicious and popular choice for bakeries, meat and milk substitutes by vendors and wholesalers too. This is partially due to their natural & smooth taste, as well as their inherent properties and versatility as binding agents, consistency enhancers and stabilizers in ready-made products.

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How do clients incorporate our products
into their business?

Our products are versatile and have numerous applications in the food and beverages industry, alongside multiple benefits for the end-consumer.

Our clients and partners use ‘Semela’ healthy oils and protein concentrates for:

BAKED GOODS AND
SNACKS

MEAT & DAIRY
ALTERNATIVES

VEGAN MAYONNAISES
SAUSES AND DRESSINGS

PROTEIN SHAKES &
SPORTS NUTRITION

PET FOOD

SALADS AND DRESSINGS

Quality

In our line of work quality is of utmost importance. To guarantee the safety of our products, the ‘Semela’ range has been certified by the below industry-leading organisations, as recognition for its quality, nutritional properties and compliance with the requirements for use and distribution within the food industry in the European Union, Canada and the USA. All our products are Kosher and Halal certified, as well as FDA approved. Our organic product range can be found in our Products page, marked by the EU organic regulation stamp too.

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Who are our partners?

We are uniquely positioned in the food industry, allowing us the flexibility to partner with farms, mills, brands and food chains across Europe. We select and stock only the highest quality of sunflower, pumpkin and flax seeds from carefully selected suppliers, employing rigorous product testing to ensure their authenticity and usability.

We primarily operate as a B2B service, however, the ‘Semela’ product range can be found on eBay and Amazon for smaller, as well as bulk product purchases.

We have partnered with some of the best technology firms in the food and beverages industry across Europe to build our state-of-the-art factory, equipped with the appropriate high-end machinery for the gentle extraction process and methods we use to produce our cold-pressed oils and protein concentrates.

Lastly, we welcome collaborations with universities and research institutes as we know that scientific work is essential for advancing the food industry and finding new uses and applications for our products that will benefit our clients and the end-user.

We are happy to provide samples for interested partners, should the need arise.

Our choice of seeds and raw materials

How do clients incorporate our products into their business?

Quality

Who are our partners?

How do clients incorporate our products
into their business?