Lubifood – A True Story of Rescue, Courage, and New Hope

Behind the Lubifood brand is not just a logo, but a real, deeply human story.
A story about a father who never lost hope, a mother who decided to change the system, and a little girl who inspired the creation of exceptional foods that today help people all over Europe.

It all began with little Thea.

Thea was a smiling, energetic girl, just like any other – until the age of three.
Suddenly, she began vomiting, experiencing hallucinations, and within days lost the ability to move. Doctors were at a loss – her bloodwork was normal.
The diagnosis only came after an MRI scan: extensive cerebral thrombosis and brain swelling.

In that moment, the family’s life collapsed.
Thea lay motionless in a hospital in Grenoble, one of Europe’s leading centers for metabolic disorders.
It was there that doctors discovered the real cause – a rare genetic disease: Homocystinuria. Her blood contained more than ten times the normal level of homocysteine – an extreme 220 μmol/l.

The family didn’t give up. Not for a second.

The treatment was clear: special nutrition with supplements and a strict low-protein diet.
What followed, however, came as a shock to her parents – most of the available low-protein foods were full of artificial additives and unhealthy substitutes.
Even worse, there was no replacement for one of the most basic foods: rice.

A pasta substitute for rice has nothing to do with real rice – neither in taste nor nutrition.

But Thea’s mother, Bibiána, refused to accept the limitations.
She searched, wrote, and called around the world until she came across a Japanese rice fermentation technology that could reduce protein content by up to 90%.
This special rice was produced by a company based in the Philippines.

The journey of a mother who became an entrepreneur.

Importing food from third countries is no simple matter. It requires an EORI number, mastering customs regulations, bank transfers, and logistics.
Bibiána, until then an ordinary mom, suddenly found herself managing international trade.
And she succeeded – the rice arrived. And it tasted phenomenal.

For Thea, it was a huge turning point – she could finally have vegan sushi, curry rice, sweet porridge, rice with roast drippings… things that had previously been off-limits.
And that’s when the decision was made: we will help others too.

Lubifood was born out of love and uncompromising quality.

Together with her father, Ľuboš – an experienced agronomist and long-time food trader – they founded Lubifood. Their goal was clear: to bring high-quality low-protein products that are healthy, tasty, and accessible.

They secured exclusive distribution of Echigo fermented rice for the entire EU. Today, it is available in several countries, with expansion to the UK and USA underway.

Lubifood is not just about rice.

The portfolio has grown to include a low-protein porridge – gluten- and lactose-free, made from just three premium ingredients: coconut milk from the Philippines, coconut sugar, and corn starch. It’s suitable for everyone – not just those with metabolic disorders.

And behind it all still stands the family.
In addition to Lubifood, father Ľuboš is the largest turkey breeder in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, producing his own feed and farming over 450 hectares of land where he grows poppy seeds, lentils, flax, buckwheat, and rapeseed. From the rapeseed, they produce top-quality cold-pressed rapeseed oil, unrefined and triple-filtered using winemaking technology.

Bibiana Gabčíková
Lubifood
📧 bibiana.gabcikova@gmail.com
🌐 www.lubifood.com