Vitafoods Europe

Stand H58

Waitaki Biosciences, the Christchurch, New Zealand-based developer and manufacturer of natural nutritional ingredients for the dietary supplement and personal care markets, will showcase three new specialty ingredients.

The new products, which represent the culmination of an ambitious expansion project to increase capacity and develop new extraction technologies, build on Waitaki’s portfolio of natural nutritional ingredients from high quality New Zealand raw materials. The ingredients, all of which target health concerns in high demand categories, include:

• Lipernex, an omega-3 and phospholipid-rich green shell mussel oil;
• ActiPhen freeze dried kiwifruit powder that promotes optimal digestive health;  
• CassiPure anthocyanin rich blackcurrant extract for eye health, cognition and immune support

Chief Executive of Waitaki Biosciences, Craig McIntosh, noted, “Waitaki’s product range has traditionally been in the area of bone and joint health, and inflammation. The addition of these new ingredients widens the net where our products have application, providing our customers with a more complete range of healthcare solutions. Given increased focus on clean ingredients in the U.S., Europe and Asia, those sourced from New Zealand’s wholesome environment are just what consumers are seeking.”

New Zealand-grown fruit varieties in particular, from which ActiPhen and CassiPure are derived, have a number of advantages over their global counterparts, according to the company. This is as a direct result of the unique New Zealand growing environment, which includes strict non-GMO policies, clean, environmentally sustainable growing practices and, as a consequence of the seasonal hole in the ozone layer, higher than normal levels of protective phytonutrients.

The successful installation and commissioning of a new 1-ton freeze dryer further cements Waitaki Biosciences’ position as one of New Zealand’s leading manufacturers of high value nutraceutical ingredients. The new freeze dryer adds an additional 200 MT of freeze dried material to annual production.

“Not only does the new dryer increase freeze drying capacity at our plant, but, just as significantly, by dedicating this new dryer specifically to botanical products it enables greater efficiencies of production through our existing meat and marine based lines” said McIntosh.

Simultaneously the company has been building a sophisticated new custom-designed solvent extraction facility, a project, which has seen significant investment over the past two years. 

The solvent extraction facility effectively creates an entirely new business for the company, adding high value marine and botanical extracts to its traditional product portfolio of dried meat and marine products.