Lycored doubles lycopene production in multi-million-dollar move

14 Jul 2020 --- Wellness, food and beauty ingredients player Lycored has expanded its tomato-based lycopene production to meet “unprecedented demand.” The company will now harvest “record volumes” of tomatoes following a three year multi-million-dollar investment in new lines, equipment, and process and supply optimization strategies. Lycored says it plans further expansion to its seasonal capacity by working with a third party in the Southern hemisphere to provide higher product availability at different times of the year.

“The expansion of our lycopene production follows a period of strategic equipment investments and improvements in tomato usage during key harvest periods. These changes will ensure that we have the expertise and the capacity to meet the needs of our customers across the health, food and beauty ingredient industries,” notes David Hebel, Senior Vice-President of Operations at Lycored.

“We looked at a number of investment areas such as in more efficient equipment and processes at existing sites, as well as investment in new lines at our new site in New Jersey, US. Further expansion continues to be on our radar. We are working on new alternative sources in the Southern Hemisphere for longer term sources at different harvest periods,” Hebel tells NutritionInsight.

Lycored’s carotenoid formulation capabilities will be a central part of the expansion, driven by its new formulation facility in New Jersey, US. The new plant will increase the company’s current formulation capacity while supporting expansion and supply into health and food applications across a multitude of buoyant and emerging nutrition segments, including plant-based products and beauty-from-within formulations..

“Demand for ingestible skincare ingredients is higher than ever and continues to grow as clean label and minimal waste become prerequisites. As manufacturers and developers look to capitalize on these trends, we are ready with our portfolio to support their projects,” Hebel highlights.

The beauty industry is shifting in the COVID-19 reality.Skin care on the spotlight
“The beauty industry is shifting in the COVID-19 reality. Consumers are taking their beauty routines from salons and spas into their homes and purchasing products such as mani/pedi sets, at-home facial devices, masks and hair kits. There’s also renewed awareness of the link between beauty and wellness, with consumers incorporating new nutrition and supplementation routines into their wellness and beauty journeys,” Laurentia Guesman, Product Manager, Carotenoid Formulations at Lycored, previously told NutritionInsight.

Previously, the company flagged trending ingredients and applications within the ingesting beauty segment. According to Lycored, carotenoids hold potential for “skin health from the inside out.” The company has spent over 20 years researching the benefits of carotenoids and developing patented technologies.

“Lycomato, our standardized tomato extract, is our flagship beauty nutrition technology. Meanwhile, Lycoderm is a highly clinically studied composition derived from tomato and rosemary that provides benefits for skin health, appearance and protection against environmental stressors,” says Guesman.

Last fall, the company also launched Lumenato, an extract derived from its golden tomato, which contains high levels of the colorless carotenoids, phytoene and phytofluene. “These carotenoids are rare in our foods, so it is important to integrate them into a regimen through supplementation,” she adds.

Recently, Lycored revamped its existing interactive educational platform “Lycopedia,” aimed at raising awareness of its flagship ingredient lycopene. Lycopedia’s new features include a skin-focused journey that positions lycopene as a major player in skin health throughout our lives, new information about the synergy between lycopene and tocopherol, as well as details of how lycopene can support bone health in post-menopausal women.

Furthermore, last year Lycored research showed that skincare consumers believe sleep and nutrition are the most essential factors in their pursuit of a “healthy glow.”

“Consumers are looking for a healthy glow but they know they can’t always get it from a tube. Increasingly, they understand the link between wellness factors, such as getting the right amount of sleep and eating a balanced diet, in achieving healthy, radiant skin,” concludes Zev Ziegler, Head of Global Brand & Marketing, Health at Lycored.

By Kristiana Lalou