Naturacare will launch four new products and showcase its full production capabilities at Vitafoods Europe 2024 [Interview]

Naturacare is the headline sponsor at the Vitafoods Europe 2024 New Products Zone, where it will be demonstrating its new range of products.

Four new product launches and a mystery…

“Our first product targets the vitality category. Called Vital Extend, it is a bilayer tablet that incorporates what we call the AB layer, providing both an immediate boost effect and a time release in an easy to use format that can be easily dissolved in a glass of water to provide an energy boost, alongside longer lasting effects,” said Christian Gervais, Managing Director at  Naturacare.

The other three product launches include Bacti Serenity, which helps manage stress through a symbiotic formulation that includes pre and probiotics, ashwagandha and vitamin B6 aimed at gut-brain health.

Targeting the sports category, Electrolytes is an effervescent tablet format that includes magnesium, vitamins B2, B6, B12 and C to provide electrolyte balance following activities.

In the immune space, the company is launching Ovo Immune, a formulation that includes turmeric extract and zinc to provide enhanced immunity dispensed through an easy-to-use pipette.

“We are also inviting exhibition attendees to come and see our mystery product at the Naturacare booth, which we are communicating nothing about until the event. Customers can ask to see this new product and we will be happy to explain all about it,” said Christian.

Naturacare’s CDMO capabilities span four countries

The company will also be using the Vitafoods Europe 2024 event to leverage its contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) capabilities, which includes full-scale services ranging from R&D and packaging, through to manufacturing.

In October 2023, Naturacare expanded its implementation capabilities with a new site based in Italy. The group now encompasses four entities, located in France, Belgium, Netherlands and now Italy, with each operational site boasting many decades of experience in the development of specific expertise and client bases.

Established 50 years ago in Belgium, Hedelab provides capsules, tablets, sticks, cap drinks, and liquid solutions, alongside offering strong R&D capabilities specific to probiotics and aromatization.

In the Netherlands, Ambi Pack provides capabilities in sachets, capsules, liquid capsules and blister packs. It joined Naturacare in 2022, bringing a sizeable CDMO expertise to the group.

Strapharm is a leading foods supplements CDMO out of France, providing expertise in dry galenic forms that focus on tablets, capsules, powders, chewing gum and effervescents.

The group’s geographic footprint also extends to Italy, where Dietopack has a significant CDMO capability that includes capsules, sachets, liquid and powder sticks, hard capsules, shot, tablets and coated tablet packs.

“Each of these businesses has a long history that has helped it develop specific CDMO capabilities in each of the markets we serve – human health, pet care and cosmetics. The four companies have some common elements, specifically that they all manufacture capsules and tablets, but each one also has its own area of specialisation. As an example of this, the French facility has capabilities in effervescent tablets, while the Belgium facility has expertise in probiotics,” Christian said.

“As a result of all these capabilities our expertise is developing beyond just vitamins and minerals to encompass a number of other key areas. These include immunity - something that became very important during the COVID-19 pandemic - stress relief, the fast-emerging area of allergy relief and dry cosmetics. We anticipate these to be key area of development for the future of our business.”

Naturacare eyes international expansion and sustainability

Geographically the company’s scope is currently European, with a key focus on the specific markets it faces – Belgium, The Netherlands, France and Italy, but with the combined capabilities, there is the scope for a wider international footprint.

“We are very strong in these particular markets, but we have ambitions to expand in Europe, with the Scandinavian countries, Germany and Iberian peninsula being our primary focus,” said Christian. “We are also developing business relations in the Middle East and we would like to expand into the Southeast Asian market because we would be able to add value there.”

Beyond the expansion of the business, Naturacare is also highly focused on the crucial area of sustainability. The company has minimised its environmental footprint through a concerted effort to make all of its manufacturing processes as efficient as possible.

“We are implementing many green processes, both in our manufacturing and in terms of the way our organisation is run. As an example, this means investment in green energies like solar panels across our facilities. On top of that the company is also meticulous in the sourcing of its ingredients, not only ensuring that it chooses natural ingredients, but also taking care to use European suppliers so as to minimize the impact that transportation has on the environment,” said Christian.