TSI Health Sciences enters Europe
ability to cater to demand for ingredients in Europe, with the
establishment of a sales and marketing office in the UK.
The company has been selling some quantities of ingredients into Europe from its base in Montana and Jiangyin, China, but president of US operations Larry Kolb said: "We realised we needed an office in Europe to build upon our momentum."
The new office is located in Rochdale, Lancashire, and will be run by newly appointed sales director, Europe Adrian Lindridge.
The company was formerly known as Technical Sourcing International, but recently announced its new name to mark the completion of its evolution from ingredients sourcing and distribution, the activities with which it began life ten years ago, to production.
It has been shifting for the last three years, since it became clear that it is important to control all aspects of production.
TSI Health Science's facility is located in Jiangyian, China, two and a half hours from its Shanghai headquarters, and the company is involved in collaborations with science organisations in China for the development of new ingredients.
Kolb said that the company has a stringent checklist based around efficacy, safety and clinical trials. Such scientific emphasis and adherence to good manufacturing practices is said to makes the ingredients suitable for markets with a strict regulatory climate such as Europe, where the 2002 dietary supplements directive came into force last August.
Euromonitor International estimated the US retail market for dietary supplements to be worth $8.3bn in 2005, growth of six percent over 2004.
This growth story represents a recovery of the market, which dipped from $6.43 billion in 1999 to $5.99 billion in 2001, corresponding with the general economic downturn.
Lindridge's brief is to create and implement sales and marketing strategies to educate European consumers about TSI's products.
Amongst the branded ingredients it offers is Peak ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which supports improvement of circulation, energy and overall well-being. Last year TSI won an award for clinical research on this ingredient at a conference organized by the Scripps Center last year, which was aimed to raise awareness and the credibility of herbal and natural remedies among doctors.
It also offers Promilin fenugreek extract, PureFlex chondriotin sulphate and glucosamine, Ostivone ipriflavone, and Ginkgo 24/6/5 extract of ginkgo biloba.
Kolb told NutraIngredients-USA.com in an interview earlier this year that the company has a number of new ingredients in the pipeline, and expects to introduce two within the next two years. It is particularly keen on opportunities in sports nutrition and antioxidant channels.
New managers have also been appointed recently in Japan and Australia.
