Aker BioMarine says Krill oil key in 2009

15-Jan-2009 - Last updated on 15-Jan-2009 at 15:23 GMT

A European supplier of health supplements says that the launch of a branded Krill oil product onto the Norwegian market will be a key launch for 2009 ahead of potential further rollouts in Europe, the US and Asia.

Aker BioMarine claims that the presence of omega-3 in its Superba Krill Oil supplement, which will be distributed in Norway by Macronova, can provide consumers across the country with a sustainable and better-utilised source of the fatty acid over fish-derived sources.

Amidst strong interest in the potential benefits of omega-3, supplement manufacturers have been looking at discovering and pushing alternative sources of the fatty acids onto markets to ensure sustainable supplies. It is in this market that a number of global suppliers have moved to provide Krill derived omega-3 products.

In light of this interest, Roar Hernes, Aker BioMarine’s European business director, told NutraIngredients.com that the product’s debut in Norway represents a ‘premium’ push in an already crowded market place.

However, Hernes claimed that omega-3 found in Krill oil, which is mainly bound as phospholipids, was used in a different manner by the body compared to omega-3 triglycerides present mainly in fish oil. In citing clinical research, he said that the company believed it was this quality that can help differentiate the product to consumers ahead of further global launches.

“Aker BioMarine will continue to develop high value Krill-derived products, all rich in omega-3 phospholipids and astaxanthin,” he stated.

Following on from the Norwegian debut of Superba Krill Oil, Hernes said there were plans for further market expansion, with omega-3 phospholipids a core focus for the group.

“The product is about to be launched into the US market in the very nearest future,” he stated. “Other markets in Asia and Europe will follow.”

Despite the additional cost of the group’s Krill oil products compared to fish oil omega-3, Hernes said he believed that positioning the product as a premium brand would meet the needs of consumers looking for high daily dosages of the fatty acid.

According to Aker BioMarine, a key part of a wider global push will be ensuring sustainable supply of Krill.

“Currently, ca 0,05 per cent of the enormous Krill biomass is harvested,” he stated. “The total allowable catch is set to one per cent by the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).”

To meet these requirements, Hernes claims that the company uses independent inspectors onboard all its vessels monitoring operations during Krill harvesting in the Antarctic.