The company says that it is an instant drink powder with all the benefits of a healthy Mediterranean diet.
The work was done by Spanish company Nutrafur, a member of the Frutarom group.
Holger Riemensperger, general manager of the health business unit, told DairyReporter Nutrafur specializes in botanical extracts from Mediterranean plants.
“They have tremendous know-how on the science, and they started development of the product in around 2010,” Riemensperger said.
They developed the line of ready-to-use soluble powder formulas that dissolve in water, soft drinks and dairy products. Once the powders dissolve, the beverage stays clear.
“When we put our forces together about a year ago, we decided to move this type of product into beverages and food matrices. In the past Nutrafur was looking to the dietary supplement arena, and not so much in food,” Riemensperger explained.
Four Mediterranean products
The NutraT line includes four mixes.
- OliveT provides more than 25% olive polyphenol content. Frutarom says recent studies demonstrate olive extracts can help regulate blood pressure and support blood circulation.
- CynaxT is a formulation from artichokes, with a 5% polyphenol content. Frutarom says artichokes can help regulate serum cholesterol levels thanks to the plant’s choleretic and diuretic properties.
- RosT has a high-phenolic compound content. Frutarom says that products fortified with RosT allow beverage producers to position their product as a “beauty from within” drink or as a “better sleep” aid.
- CitroT is a soluble extract with high bioflavonoid content. Citrus bioflavonoids are known to provide a protective effect on the cardiovascular system.
All four mixes are produced using sustainable sources, are heat stable at up to 70°C, and both Kosher and Halal certified.
Incorporation into products
The complete Frutarom Health NutraT Mediterranean line is compatible with other health ingredients supported by research, such as its Neuravena or Portusana.
NutraT can be incorporated into a food or beverage matrix, such as water, fruit juice, yoghurt, kefir or milk, or as a final product in powder sticks, sachets or inside of a powder-dispensing bottle cap for preparing enhanced beverages immediately before use.
“Yogurt is a very nice application for this type of product,” Riemensperger said. “It is considered a healthy product, so it is already the right consumer group that we are targeting.”
He added that Frutarom wants to move more into the functional food arena, and promote the company’s capabilities to customers.
He said the company can develop full concepts, which includes not only the ingredients but also technological, scientific and regulatory know-how.
Acquisition of Extrakt Chemie
This week Frutarom also announced the acquisition of the German partnership Extrakt Chemie as well as the property on which Extrakt Chemie’s plant is situated.
The deal cost approximately $6m (€5.3m) plus the assumption of net debt of around $2.2m (€2m).
Extrakt Chemie, which was established in 1969, works in specialty ingredient extracts, primarily for pharma, natural medications, nutritional supplements, foods and cosmetics.
Ori Yehudai, president and CEO of Frutarom Group, said, "Over the past two years Frutarom has taken a major strategic step in strengthening its position as a leading global manufacturer of specialty fine ingredients.”
Continued expansion
He pointed to the acquisitions of Montana Food in Peru, Vitiva in Slovenia and Nutrafur and Ingrenat in Spain, companies engaged in natural plant extracts and natural colors.
The company also took over Florida-based CitraSource and Scandia, which specialize in natural citrus-based specialty ingredients, and also Algalo and Grow, who develop natural raw material extracts.
The acquisition of Extrakt Chemie is the 30th in the past five years and the fifth since the beginning of 2016.
"We have an excellent pipeline of future acquisitions which will contribute, along with continued reinforcement of our market leadership in joining together the worlds of natural flavors and health, towards achieving the goals we recently set out - $2bn in sales by 2020 along with an EBITDA margin of over 22% in our core activities," Yehudai said.