Algatech Opens New US Subsidiary

15 Jun 2017 --- Algatech has opened Algatech Inc., a New York City-based subsidiary created to serve its customers in the North American market. The company is appointing Ken Seguine to lead the new operation. Algatech’s expansion into the US will accelerate development of the growing market in North America for its leading microalgae ingredient brand, AstaPure, as well as new microalgae sources in the pipeline. 

Algatech Inc.’s responsibilities will include the US, Canada and Mexico. Gary Brenner, who was responsible for Algatech’s business development in the NAFTA markets since 2010, will lead the algal protein development project as part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology consortium (EIT Food).

Speaking about the company’s growth, Efrat Kat, ‎VP Marketing & Sales at Algatechnologies, tells NutritionInsight that “in the last six months or so we recruited an entire team of R&D people, including a head of business development who will focus on new product development. We are expanding our team, but also our presence in the market. We are looking to recruit more people for our team, and we are also conducting more clinical studies for our astaxanthin and other products.”

“[Algatech] has the know-how, the experience and the right infrastructure and locations, there is still a lot of potential untapped in the microalgae industry and we are fascinated about further developing this industry,” Kat says.

Ken Seguine served as VP Sales and Marketing of UAS Laboratories 2013-2017 and was Executive VP consumer products at Savesta Life Sciences Inc. He brings more than 25 years of experience in the natural products industry with companies in both dietary supplements and personal care.

“We are committed to expanding our global marketing network and strengthening our presence in the NAFTA markets,” says Algatech CEO Hagai Stadler. “This includes highly qualified personnel recruitment, new product developments, and growing Algatech’s operation facilities in the Arava desert, Israel.”

“I’m excited to join the team at Algatech and help them better serve the North American market with our new organic and non-GMO ingredients,” says Seguine. “Algatech specializes in the development and production of ingredients derived from algae. I am looking forward to contributing my background in organic agriculture, cosmetics and dietary supplements to the company’s activities.”

Algatech was chosen by the EIT’s Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KIC) leaders to be the sole algae producer, especially to develop new food sources from microalgae via its advanced technologies and capabilities. Algatech intends to invest heavily in developing plant-based protein from microalgae in cooperation with global ingredient companies.

“Algatech is focused on natural microalgae solutions,” says Stadler. “It cultivates microalgae in a patented, eco-friendly, closed system that allows the production of safe, pure ingredients and minimize its environmental footprint. The company works relentlessly to unlock the potential of microalgae, discovering and industrializing new strains of microalgae, and producing it in large scale through methods completely beneficial to both consumers and the planet.”