Martin Bauer expands product portfolio with US-grown Echinacea botanical

07 Apr 2022 --- Specialized botanical solutions provider, Martin Bauer is expanding its ingredient portfolio with the addition of Echinacea purpurea. The ingredient is processed and grown in the US and complements the company’s botanical strategy of expanding its current offerings to US farm partners.

“There are many studies on Echinacea for wellness and immune health benefits. Additionally, sales demands for immune health products have doubled since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Randal Kreienbrink, vice president of marketing, Martin Bauer Group North America, tells NutitionInsight.

“Martin Bauer will offer new and future crops through its network of local farms throughout North America. We are offering our customers new options for sourcing premium botanical ingredients right here in the US,” says George Pontiakos, chief operations officer at MartinBauer.

Echinacea’s immunity potential
Industry has been tapping into the immune benefits of echinacea extracts.

Martin Bauer strengthens its raw materials platform in North America by adding Echinacea to its portfolio.“The immune health category will be strong for years to come. COVID-19 set forth a ‘new normal’ in this category,” adds Kreienbrink.

“Categorically, innovation will bring new market players into the category. The market trajectory will continue to increase, especially as other virus variants arise.”

In this space, Cerdán introduced a line of sugar-free sweets with vitamins to help increase immunity at ISM and ProSweets 2022 in Germany. Sugar-free candies include vitamins B6, B12, C, zinc, and Echinacea, which help boost immunity.

NutritionInsight previously spoke to experts in the botanicals space who unveiled echinacea extracts are among the ingredients that are suitable for targeting immune health.

Environmentally sustainable sourcing
Martin Bauer oversees echinacea production through its agricultural arm in Oregon, (US) and in close collaboration with its long-term partner farms in the Pacific Northwest, where it is grown and organically dried.

For this pollinator-friendly and crop, the company’s experts, who specialize in local agriculture and raw material specifics, have implemented an Integrated Pest Management Plan.

While achieving high-quality requirements, the Integrated Pest Management Plan protects and sustains native insects and soil health.

“Each new product we offer, like the Echinacea purpurea, benefits from our years of hands-on experience out in the fields working alongside our growers. Martin Bauer meets the global raw material standards through transparent and sustainable management practices.”

Martin Bauer committed to having no carbon footprint by 2030 using regenerative farming as one strategy and limiting business travel whenever possible.

By Nicole Kerr