Beyond The Headlines: FrieslandCampina trims Dutch operations, CV Sciences acquires Extract Labs

This week, FrieslandCampina moved to trim production activities in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands. CV Sciences acquired Extract Labs, a manufacturer of premium cannabinoid products. Meanwhile, recent supplement product launches included solutions targeting hormone-free arousal enhancement, complimentary GLP-1 medication therapy and stress relief during the holiday season.

Business news

FrieslandCampina is taking new steps to make its production network in the Netherlands more “efficient, sustainable and future-proof.” The company intends to concentrate activities at the production site in Leeuwarden in the southern part of the location. As a result, the northern part of the site will eventually be closed. This will avoid significant investments in the renewal of the northern area and will eliminate the division of the site by a public road and railway line in the future. Additionally, the company plans to relocate natural cheese production from Born to Workum. As a result of this consolidation, the cheese production site in Born will be closed. These two intended measures will collectively lead to the elimination of 186 jobs.

CV Sciences, a consumer wellness company specializing in hemp extracts and other natural products, entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Extract Labs, a manufacturer and distributor of premium cannabinoid products, including gummies, topicals and tinctures. Extract Labs-branded products are sold through a range of sales channels from B2B to B2C. Extract Labs allows low to large minimum order quantity production runs to increase speed to market for new product development. It is GMP-certified and FDA-registered. CV Sciences intends to begin in-sourcing production of certain key products.

Ferment, a venture studio that creates bio-enabled product companies, launched a US$20 million studio fund to rapidly translate biology into products that solve targeted problems across sectors including energy, agriculture, materials and health. The first creation of the new fund, valued at US$2.5 million in investment, is Alchemyca. This company uses enzymes, sensors and AI to “dramatically improve” the conversion of organic waste into renewable natural gas. It joins existing Ferment companies that have all launched revenue-generating products within their first three years and have attracted corporate partners like Vale, Suncor, Chanel and Nutreco.

New product launches

Life Extension launched Sexual Health for Her, a hormone-free formula encouraging arousal, promoting lubrication and supporting sexual satisfaction with a blend of clinically studied fenugreek seed and saffron extracts. The brand cites a study in Obstetrics & Gynecology, which found 44% of adult women, regardless of life phase, see their stress, age, hormones and nutrition impacting their sex drive. Life Extension’s women’s health line also includes Menopause Relief, which helps relieve hot flashes, Estrogen Balance Elite to help support the body’s pathways for estrogen production, Breast Health Formula and Florassist Probiotic Women’s Health to support vaginal, digestive and immune health.

Replenza Labs launched a daily physician-formulated nutritional supplement line specifically designed for individuals using GLP-1 medications. The products offer a comprehensive approach to supporting muscle recovery, digestive health and skin elasticity. The line includes Replenza Daily Replenisher, a powdered supplement designed to support muscle recovery, digestive health and skin elasticity. It also features its Replenza Daily Supplement, containing 22 essential nutrients, including a probiotic and enzyme blend for gut health.

Magnum Nutraceuticals aims to combat holiday stress with its launch of a new Holiday Stack, a quartet of nutrient-rich, on-the-go supplements designed to help individuals stay on track with their fitness and nutrition goals amid the chaos. It features products like Nektr, a green and superfood blend; Primer, a multivitamin pack; Refresh, a hydration and recovery supplement; and ÄRA, a protein creamer for hot beverages.

Scientific advances

AstaReal, specializing in natural astaxanthin, published a study in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, focusing on the firefighting community. The research suggests that astaxanthin supplementation led to observed improvements in cardiometabolic metrics. This indicates that astaxanthin may enhance substrate utilization during exercise, which could support better overall cardiometabolic health. Firefighters endure some of the most physically demanding and hazardous conditions, leading to a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease and premature mortality. Data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Fire Protection Agency reveal that heart disease and sudden cardiac death are the leading causes of firefighter fatalities over the past three decades.

L-Nutra shared pre-clinical and early clinical results of its Fasting Mimicking Diet in chronic kidney disease in Science Translational Medicine. This study reveals the potential of a “low-salt fasting-mimicking diet” (LS-FMD) to improve kidney function and cellular health in chronic kidney disease, suggesting potential new avenues for treatment. The research investigates the effects of LS-FMD in rat models and humans. The findings indicate that LS-FMD reprograms renal development-related gene expression, turning back on the systems that generate new and healthy kidney cells. Specifically, the diet promotes a quiescent, or resilient, phenotype in mature podocytes — essential cells that play a vital role in filtering blood in the kidneys. Notably, LS-FMD has been shown to lead to the reversal of glomerular damage, highlighting its regenerative potential.