Weekly Roundup: BASF increases 2021 financial forecast, DSM’s head office moves to Maastricht

16 Jul 2021 --- This week in nutrition news, BASF and Glanbia both released preliminary financial results. Also, Netherlands-based Royal DSM is moving its head office from Heerlen to Maastricht. Meanwhile, Calanus, a Norwegian biomarine company, rebranded under the new trademark Zooca in preparation for global expansion.

In brief: Financial results
BASF Group released its preliminary figures for the second quarter of 2021 and increased its forecast for the full-year 2021. Sales increased by 55.8 percent in the second quarter of 2021 to €19.8 million (US$23.4 million). The average analyst estimates for BASF Group’s sales in the second quarter of 2021 were €17.3 million (US$20 million). The company’s forecast assumes that there will be no severe restrictions on economic activity due to measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the second half of 2021.Kinderfarms, a health and wellness brand for families, launched Kindersprout, a plant-based organic protein shake for kids.

Glanbia issued a trading update based on preliminary results for the first half of 2021, revealing the company delivered a strong performance above expectations for the first half of 2021. This period also saw a 20 percent increase on a constant currency basis versus the prior year due to very strong demand in the second quarter – in particular, across both Glanbia Performance Nutrition and Glanbia Nutritionals. While the group remains vigilant to the continued volatile and disruptive potential of the COVID-19 pandemic, strategic actions have enabled a strong recovery in the first half of 2021. 

In brief: Business news
In preparation for global expansion, Calanus will rebrand under the new trademark Zooca. The new name encompasses both the company and its range of products. Additionally, the investment company Broodstock Capital invested €10 million (US$11.8 million) in Zooca and became the major shareholder in the company. This capital raising enables efficient rollout of the new brand and ensures aligned efforts throughout the whole value chain from sustainable harvesting of Calanus to products on the shelf.

Nutrition brand Neversecond has been selected by EF Education NIPPO Pro Cycling to provide sports science coaching and science-based nutritional products to its eight-rider team tackling the three-week Tour de France bicycle race. Beginning in late 2020, EF Education-NIPPO riders worked with the team at Neversecond to develop the protocols and nutrition for its team this season. Through clinical research and testing, the team developed a system of nutrition products for athletes.

In brief: Launches and releases
The Good Crisp Company, a producer of chips, has launched immune-boosting cheese balls. The product is made with Kerry’s Wellmune ingredient, which has been proven to help strengthen the immune system and enhance its essential functions. The Good Crisp Company Cheese Balls are non-GMO, gluten-free and made with all-natural ingredients.The Good Crisp Company launched immune-boosting cheese balls which are non-GMO, gluten-free and made with all-natural ingredients.

Xtreme Organics launched Hydra sports water, a US Department of Agriculture (USDA)-certified hemp-enhanced sports water “designed for and by athletes.” Hydra sports water is positioned as an enabler of faster recovery time and a sports performance enhancer.

Jessica Biel and Jeremy Adams partnered up to launch Kinderfarms, a health and wellness brand for families. The company’s flagship product, Kinderlyte, is currently available in 25,000 stores. Kinderlyte is natural, medical-grade hydration and helps with dehydration. It is made without artificial sweeteners, colors or flavors. The other product, Kindersprout, is a plant-based organic protein shake for kids. It is composed of vitamins and is positioned as allergen-friendly.

In brief: Research and studies
A study conducted by researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, in the US, found that eating whole grains was linked to smaller increases in waist size, blood pressure and blood sugar. The researchers examined how whole- and refined-grain intake over time impacted five risk factors of heart disease: waist size, blood pressure, blood sugar, triglyceride and HDL (“good”) cholesterol.A study found that eating whole grains was linked to smaller increases in waist size, blood pressure and blood sugar.

In brief: Announcements
DSM intends to build a highly sustainable head office in Maastricht in the Netherlands. The new office will be an “accurate visualization of DSM’s culture” and underpins the company’s philosophy of hybrid working in an inspiring clubhouse-like environment where people can connect and collaborate. The building is set to be ready by the end of 2023.

GSK unveiled a plan for one of Europe’s largest life science campuses in Stevenage, UK. The plan aims to unlock up to £400 million (US$471 million) of new private investment and create up to 5,000 new highly-skilled jobs over the next decade. Stevenage aims to become one of Europe’s largest “clusters” for biotechnology and other early-stage life science companies. The vision for the new campus has been developed in partnership with Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst (SBC), the UK Government, Stevenage Borough Council and the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Sabinsa, a supplier and manufacturer of natural herbs and dietary supplements, celebrated reaching 308 separate patents granted across the world. The most recent patents granted include several from Australia, Canada, Europe and the US. Sabinsa’s patent portfolio includes composition, use and process patents. Many are for wellness ingredients such as LactoSpore, DigeZyme and Curcumin C3 Complex, Nigellin and Sabroxy.

By Nicole Kerr