Kerry expands in mobility market with Pharma Foods International’s joint health ingredient tech

15 Feb 2021 --- Kerry has signed a licensing partnership with Japan-based Pharma Foods International (PFI) for the development, application and global sales of joint health ingredient technology.

Targeting F&B fortification, the PFI joint health technology complements Kerry’s portfolio of science-backed branded ingredients – including GanedenBC30, Wellmune and its most recent addition Bio-K Plus probiotics.

“Bone and joint health benefits are aligned to an active lifestyle and thus are important for consumers across life stages. We therefore expect to continue to see strong demand for functional products than can help support this need state,” John Quilter, vice president and general manager for Kerry’s ProActive Health business, tells NutritionInsight.

The new ingredient promotes the natural production of hyaluronic acid, keeping joints lubricated and mobile. This ultimately helps reduce discomfort and stiffness in knee joints and provides benefit to people with osteoarthritis. 

A Kerry proprietary consumer study found that global consumers put a high priority on bone and jonit health support.

The joint health ingredient promotes the natural production of hyaluronic acid, keeping joints lubricated and mobile.Innova Market Insights further adds that maintaining the ability to be mobile and active is important for consumers of all ages. Bone and joint health claims are increasingly applied in various products, with a growth of 16 percent globally between 2015 and 2019.

Strong synergies expected
Early last year, Quilter predicted to NutritionInsight that functional beverages would be a top trend for 2020. 

As the joint health ingredient is a water-soluble ingredient that has no impact to taste in formulation, it creates opportunities for functional F&B applications as well as dietary supplements. 

According to Kerry, the ingredient has already been formulated into several products in the Japanese market.

Kerry will be developing a brand positioning for the technology, supporting application and development and supplying the ingredient to customers worldwide.

Dr. Mujo Kim, CEO of PFI, states: “Now that we have established a cooperative relationship with Kerry, we will be able to accelerate our global expansion. We expect strong synergies between PFI’s research capabilities and Kerry’s global commercial network.”

Interest in functional foods
Kerry recently contributed to a Special Report on food fortification, highlighting how functional ingredients can help offset “reputation hit” suffered by certain categories.

Moreover, consumers’ intensifying pill fatigue coupled with concerns exacerbated by COVID-19 have created a demand for immunity NPD in innovative delivery formats.

NutritionInsight previously investigated how the mobility and immune health lines continue to overlap.

“Like other health benefits, as consumers look to address their health and wellness goals, they reach for functional F&B , along with dietary supplements that are formulated with science-backed, branded ingredients which offer both transparency and confidence in the finished product,” concludes Quilter.

Edited by Anni Schleicher