The deal covers production and sale all of NutriCorp's film-based nutraceutical products in Canada. Although it is on an exclusive basis initially, on-going exclusivity is dependent on minimum sales of $4.5 million over the first three years.
BioEnvelop says its film delivery system maximizes the active ingredient capacity in value-added nutritional products.
The dissolvable film, which is placed under the tongue, is suitable for broad spectrum of vitamins, including complex B vitamins, supplements like melatonin, taurine and CoQ10, a number of popular herbs and plant-derived ingredients, and minerals chromium and selenium.
It also has medical and dental, and oral and bodycare applications.
Vic Neufeld, president and CEO of NutriCorp's parent company Jamieson Laboratories, said:
"The nutraceutical films, manufactured by BioEnvelop, allows us to offer a new and convenient delivery system to our customers and consumers. This innovation is aligned with Jamieson/NutriCorp strategic goals in the worldwide nutritional supplement industry."
Film is a relatively new delivery system for dietary supplements, having proven to a popular format for breath fresheners. According to ProductScan Online, there has been a five-fold increase worldwide in the number of thin film strip products sold in the packaged goods market since 2002, with the number of products launched worldwide in 2004 well into triple figures.
NutriCorp is not the only North American player to leap on the new technology, which offers added convenience of supplement users because of the portable format and no need for water.
In August Leiner Health Products announced that it had obtained the exclusive right to sell MonoSol Rx's film technology in store-brand OTC strips, and is also using it for its own ShortCuts supplements brand. Its first product is a melatonin supplement.
Last October New Jersey-based Momentus Solutions claimed to be the first company to sell a complete line of children's vitamin strips nationwide, with its 32-variety Healthy Moments line.
With its three nutritional supplement brands (Jamieson Natural Sources, Wampole and Quest Vitamins), Jamieson claims a 30.1 percent share of Canada's branded vitamin-mineral supplement category.