Speaking to NutraIngredients-USA at Expo West in Anaheim last week, marketing director Shaheen Majeed said he had had a lot of interest from the market and was now in exclusive talks with one “big brand” that is going to take it to market.
The groundbreaking two-tone product will launch this year, he said.
"A typical color would be a shade of brown and white, but with added flavors (with natural coloring), the combinations can get real interesting, and even tasty, as these can also be made into chewables."
He added: “We’ve applied for a patent. This is a first for the industry so we are very excited about it. In the patent pending bi-layer tablet form, there are several different combinations, of not only probiotics but also with different prebiotics, in two separate layers.
"To my knowledge, all synbiotics are pre-mixtures of probiotics and prebiotics [typically delivered via capsules]. Our innovative bilayer synbiotic pill is the only form of product where synbiotic is a 'post-mixture' of probiotics and prebiotics."
Bilayer technology
The bilayer 'integrated nutritional composites' (INC) technology – unveiled last summer – had attracted a lot of interest from customers looking to combine incompatible ingredients, explore different timed release profiles or simply excite consumers with novel two-tone tablets, he said.
“The limit to what you can do with this is really is your imagination. Bilayers allow you to be super creative. We launched the technology with five ready-made formulations [covering heart health, blood sugar support, weight management and joint health/inflammation], but they have so much more potential.
"You don’t have to have equal proportions either – you can create exactly what you want.”
He added: “It’s still very new but we’re at the stage now where we have a lot of pilot runs and I think at least one or two more bilayer products will hit the marketplace this year.”
The first supplement to hit shelves featuring the bilayer technology was the America's Finest joint health supplement containing NiLitis SR (a combination of Sabinsa’s Curcumin C3 complex, Boswellin (boswellia serrata) and ginger extract).
Cashing in with coconut water
Sabinsa – which is generating double digit growth – is also in discussions with firms looking to cash in on the coconut water craze through formulating beverages and supplements using Sabinsa's Cococin freeze-dried coconut water solids, he said.
"In the last year or so we have been targeting and promoting Cococin, and more and more dietary supplement companies have shown interest.
"However, we feel the true benefit will come from the functional beverage space. Not everyone can get their hands on Coconut water easily or sustainably, therefore this self-affirmed GRAS powered extract becomes a preferred choice in formulating with coconut-like products.
The coconut water market doubled in size in 2010, he added: "Cococin was primarily introduced to the cosmeceutical world when it was initially launched. With great success there, and the rising consumer interest in coconut water, we realized a trend that could use a water soluble coconut extract in both the dietary supplements and functional beverage sectors – we did what we do best, extract the natural goodness of tender coconut water and make it water soluble, from the very source we were using for cosmetics.
"The nutritional aspects of Cococin are amazing: rich in proteins, amino acids, enzymes, vitamins, minerals and cytokinins."