Swedish probiotics firm BioGaia is to develop a new variation of its innovative LifeTop straw for one of China's largest dairies, it announced this week.
The new version of the straw, developed last year as a delivery method for Reuteri bacteria, will contain a new probiotic bacteria, which has not yet been revealed for competition reasons.
The agreement with the Chinese dairy, also not named, is a result of the marketing cooperation with Tetra Pak, said BioGaia.
The Life Top straw makes it possible to create products with a long shelf life using sensitive ingredients. BioGaia currently sells the straw containing its patented probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus reuteri in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, England and South Africa.
The new product is expected to be ready during the first quarter of 2004. It will be produced by TwoPac AB, the packaging company 50 per cent owned by BioGaia.
The new straw has the potential to significantly boost sales volumes for the company, according to BioGaia president Peter Rothschild.