The acquisition agreement, which was announced in the Irish company’s interim management report on July 30, includes Natreon’s facilities in the USA and India. The deal is expected to be completed later this year.
John Quilter, VP of Global Portfolio – ProActive Health, Kerry, told NutraIngredients-USA: “Our agreement to acquire Natreon, Inc. and their portfolio of clinically supported Ayurvedic and botanical extracts will allow Kerry to address a wider range of health need states including stress, sleep, cognition as well as heart and joint health for healthy aging. Our expanding portfolio will lead to new opportunities for innovation in functional food, beverage, and supplement formulations
“Kerry is committed to investing in scientific-backed, branded ingredients with the benefits consumers want most, providing the highest quality functional ingredients to our customers so they can create innovative products that offer real value to consumers,” added Quilter.
Portfolio building
Kerry has strategically expanded its health portfolio in recent years, snapping up GanedenBC30 probiotic, Wellmune yeast beta glucan, and Bio-K Plus probiotics.
Earlier this year, Kerry acquired Spanish biotech company Biosearch Life for €126.9 million. Based in Grenada, Spain, the leading biotech company innovates, manufactures and distributes functional ingredients including premium probiotics obtained from human breast milk and a portfolio of science-backed botanical extracts and ultra-purified omega-3 oils.
Also in 2021, Kerry announced a marketing deal with BIO-CAT Microbials to distribute the OPTI-BIOME MB40 probiotic ingredient, and agreed a strategic licensing partnership with Japan’s Pharma Foods International Co. Ltd. for the development, application and global sales of a joint health ingredient technology for functional foods and dietary supplements.
