KMC already supplies the group’s Indian operation with a range of potato starches and proteins, but the latest extension will bolster further growth in new and existing markets.
Azelis Australia will use KMC’s “high quality” ingredients to tap into current trends for sustainable and plant-derived solutions that satisfy “current market trends and consumer demands”.
Asia Pacific Business Development Director, Kimberly Chung comments: “This distribution extension is a testament to KMC’s belief in our ability to further develop their business and create new opportunities through our deep knowledge of the food industry, and the innovative solutions we can provide thanks to our technical and formulation expertise.”
In addition, KMC’s ingredients complement Azelis’ existing portfolio and “core values of providing sustainable ingredients to our partners”, she adds.
Aligned philosophy
KMC grows, develops, and produces potato-based ingredients for a variety of applications, such as plant-based and dairy alternatives (PlantDeli and CheeseMaker) and nutrition and protein fortification (Protafy).
The co-op is 100% owned by Danish growers and produces more than 60 different potato-based products. Originally developed to supply local markets, KMC now exports around 90% of ingredients - with China one of its largest markets. Ingredients are sustainable and climate friendly.
Director KMC Asia Pacific, Jens Helmer Larsen, says that, in this way, the organisation is commercially “very much aligned” with Azelis: in promoting healthier plant-based solutions and increasing availability for customers in the region.
He comments: “With Azelis’ market knowledge, strong sales capabilities and dedication to sustainability, we are confident that together we can look forward to continued growth in New Zealand’s food & nutrition industry.”
Regional expansion
Azelis considers Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) a major growth areas due to rapidly expanding populations and an abundance of natural resources.
As such, Azelis Australia has significantly increased its presence in the region over the past five years through organic growth and strategic acquisitions, including Chemcolour in 2017 and CW Pacific in 2020.
Both primarily supplied local markets but shared product synergies with Azelis and offered a strong platform for expansion in food and life science markets.
Chemcolour, in particular, positioned Azelis among one of the top distributors of speciality chemicals and food ingredients in ANZ.
At the time, CEO Dr Hans Joachim Müller explained: “The fact that the fundamentals of the countries positively contribute to the strength of Chemcolour’s business, makes this acquisition a great platform to extend mandates with our existing, global principals into Australia and New Zealand.”
Meanwhile, CW Pacific offered technical expertise in life sciences and a broad customer base in Papua New Guinea and other Pacific islands, as well as core ANZ markets.
Recent acquisitions, include a distribution deal with Israel’s Green Mountain Biotech (signed in July) to supply active botanical ingredients (formulated from traditional Chinese medicine and dermatology) in Southeast Asia for personal care and cosmetic markets.