Trace Minerals Rebrands as Trace
Trace Minerals, provider of trace mineral-based supplements, has announced the official launch of its new brand identity—Trace. The company will now be known as Trace and retailers as well as consumers can expect to see new product packaging in stores and online beginning this fall.
A recent WholeFoods magazine Natural Choice Awards winner, Trace will continue to emphasize sustainability initiatives, push innovation in product formulations with superior ingredients, and commit to ongoing scientific research and insights. With its new product packaging, the company will look to emphasize the key benefits of each product along with its unique delivery method but with a more modern and relevant style. "Our award-winning brand is already launched globally, but with this exciting revitalization we're armed to make even greater waves abroad through an innovative and modernized lens," shared Linnette Reindel, Chief Marketing Officer.
Applied Food Sciences and KÄÄPÄ Biotech open New Cultivation Facility
Applied Food Sciences (AFS) and KÄÄPÄ Biotech are bringing a new state-of-the-art cultivation facility to Finland. With the global demand for premium functional mushrooms continuing to grow, both companies wanted to strategically expand their partnership and their commitment to producing the highest quality Nordic-origin mushrooms with a new facility to support various cultivation practices while adhering to the highest standards of purity, bioactivity, and sustainability.
The new location will strengthen both partners ability to supply premium organic mushroom extracts like Lion’s Mane, Reishi, Cordyceps, Chaga, Shiitake, and Maitake, to the global market for use in food, beverages, and supplements. “This expansion speaks to our dedication to transparency and traceability in the supply chain and reinforces our long-term commitment to advancing the science behind functional mushroom ingredients... The expansion will integrate further advancements to increase production efficiency and enhance product quality. The controlled environment innovations will enable a deeper exploration of optimal growing conditions, ensuring the highest concentration of bioactive compounds in each mushroom species," shared Loretta Zapp, CEO of AFS.
NutriLeads Launches Video Series and Expands Probiotic Distribution
NutriLeads BV is teaming up with B2B food ingredient marketplace, 1-2-Taste, to expand the distribution network for its precision prebiotic, Benicaros, to Europe and India and streamline the supply chain for food and beverage companies.
Benicaros is an award-winning, clinically proven precision prebiotic sourced from upcycled carrot pomace offering strong and predictable gut health benefits while encouraging faster, smarter, and stronger immune responses. NutriLeads will look to 1-2-Taste to make sourcing for the probiotic a simple online shopping experience. “1-2-Taste takes an innovative approach to sourcing ingredients, much like how Benicaros is disrupting the market for gut and immune health... This partnership complements our existing collaboration with the LEHVOSS Group, which represents Benicaros in the EMEA region for dietary supplement formulators," shared NutriLeads Chief Executive Officer, Joana Carneiro-Wakefield, Ph.D.
In addition to expanding its distribution, NutriLeads is launching a new animated video series to spread the word on the importance of gut health and precision prebiotics. The series consist of three videos discussing the gut microbiome, its influence on health, what precision prebiotics are, why fiber structure matters, and what the benefits of Benicaros are. The entire series can be viewed here.
ACI Group Partnering with DolCas Biotech
The ACI Group is continuing to make strides in its strategy to expand its portfolio with sustainability sourced, scientifically validated ingredients that address current health trends and consumer demands, with its latest joint venture with DolCas Biotech. ACI has agreed to distribute DolCas clinically researched nutraceutical ingredients throughout the UK. Established in 2006, DolCas is a branded ingredients firm specializing in the development, global positioning, and commercialization of clinically researched ingredients.
Through its affiliation with ACI Group, DolCas will be able to bring Curcugen, Morikol, BergacynFF, NitrateBurst, Fortiquin, and MMP50—ingredients that facilitate the creation of advanced nutraceutical products with sought out features and benefits, to the greater UK market. Karsten Smet, CEO of ACI Group, shared her thoughts on the new alliance, "This partnership with DolCas Biotech opens doors for our customers to create truly differentiated products that command attention. In today's competitive market, brands and their formulators need ingredients that not only work in a targeted way to address critical health priorities but substantiates those claims. DolCas Biotech's clinically proven range, with focus on superior bioavailability and potency, supports the development of innovative formulations that meet consumer demands for efficacy and ease of use. We look forward to supplying these ingredients to our health and nutrition customers across the UK and helping to usher in the next generation of nutraceutical solutions."
ProbBiotix Partners with Eifron SA
ProBiotix Health announced its newest commercial partnership with consumer brand specialist, Eifron. The joint venture will see the introduction of YourBiotixBP, which contains ProBiotix's proprietary IP protected probiotic strain LPLDL, with the initial batch of products scheduled to launch in Greece and selected regions in Europe during the first quarter of 2025.
The strategic alliance will allow Eifron to expand its product range with the addition of an item to support healthy cholesterol and blood pressure "We are thrilled to partner with ProBiotix Health and bring their scientifically-backed products to our markets. This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission to provide our customers with effective and natural health solutions," shared Elias Kartasiadis, CEO of Eifron.
Nexus Laboratori and Swisseutic Enter Distribution Agreement
Nexus Laboratori, and Swiss based distributor, Swisseutic, have entered into an exclusive distribution agreement for Amuni, a premium line of botanical extracts developed by Nexus made from high-quality plant-based Sicilian raw materials like citrus fruits, Pantelleria capers, Etna prickly pears, and pomegranate.
Swisseutic will use its extensive international network and expertise in distribution to introduce and promote the Amuni line. “For over twenty years, I have developed products using the best ingredients available globally, focusing on innovative combinations and galenic forms to offer something new and unique to the market. I soon realized that to achieve true innovation, it was necessary to create our ingredients from scratch. Amunì represents this vision, remaining deeply rooted in my land, Sicily," shared Maria Calcara, CEO of Nexus.
PhytoGaia Wins 2024 Award
The winner of the 2024 NutraIngredients-Asia Start-up Award is none other than PhytoGaia. Known as the "Oscar" of Asia Pacific's nutritional product/ingredient industry, the award was present during this year's Vitafoods Asia event held in Bangkok, Thailand. PhytoGaia was an exhibitor at this year's event, giving show attendees an in-depth look at their flagship products including TocoGaia, STGaia, CaroGaia, and PetGaia. By winning the award, which honors the most promising and impactful new companies within the industry, PhytoGaia has become the awards first palm phytonutrient company from Malaysia to be selected as its recipient.
"This award is a testament to our team's passion, hard work and vision to push the boundaries of science and wellness. We are truly honored to receive such recognition and committed to keep delivering innovative solutions to improve health and wellness worldwide," shared Bryan See, Vice President of PhytoGaia.
