Located at the company’s main headquarters in Bishop’s Stortford in the UK, the Creative Suite is home to technical experts, samples, technology and information all geared up to developing new bio-based products.
The investment of these facilities means Cornelius are able to offer customers more collaborative NPD services with facilities to host workshops, seminars and meetings.
These resources form part of an additional investment in a health and nutrition kitchen and a care products laboratory also at the site.
While the health and nutrition kitchen recreates product preparation and use in the home, it is also equipped to allow food technologists to test recipes, research new ingredients, create demonstrations and develop or reformulate products.
The manufacturing equipment, microbiology instrumentation, taste testing and sensory facilities means the team are able to provide bespoke product services in their core markets, which include supplements and sports nutrition as well as bakery, beverage, dairy, confectionery and meat.
“The investment we’ve made in this suite is very much a catalyst to encourage creativity and ultimately try to develop those concepts in our laboratory facilities,” said Darren Spiby, the newly appointed CEO of Cornelius Group plc.
“The fact that we invest in these kinds of facilities shows that the health and nutrition market is attractive right now and in the future,” he added.
Laboratory at work
Joy Thomas, technical business development manager for the Cornelius Group spoke of Cornelius’ partnership with US firm Ganeden in which its probiotic ingredient GanedenBC30 was made available in the United Kingdom, India, Poland and France.
Its ongoing five-year partnership with Cornelius has resulted in the inclusion of GanedenBC30 in foods such as frozen yogurt and baked goods to hot cereals and confections.
GanedenBC30 has a naturally occurring layer of organic material that protects the genetic core of the bacteria.
Probiotic strains such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are unable to form this protective layer, making them vulnerable to failure in a variety of manufacturing processes.
The laboratory has already played a role in developing several nutritients, including the red and blackcurrants contained within Danish firm Asiros’ MitoActive.
MitoActive is a natural red berry drink made from ultra-concentrate Danish ‘superberries’ and contains the polyphenol Ribetril A.
In addition, resveratrol produced by Evolva and distributed by Cornelius, is a natural plant ingredient, associated with a range of cardiovascular health benefits.
Resveratrol’s properties have made the ingredient suitable for use in capsules and soft-gels for dietary supplements.
Cornelius also distributes ingredients from CEAMSA (Compañía Española de Algas Marinas S.A.), a manufacturer and supplier of carrageenan, a natural hydrocolloid, which is extracted from species of red seaweed.
The product has a profile that makes it ideal for a number of applications from meat and confectionery to pharmaceuticals.