Nestlé Health Science’s Vitaflo acquires Dr. Schär’s brands for genetic disorders and milk protein allergy

09 Jun 2021 --- Vitaflo International, part of Nestlé Health Science, is expanding its offerings for specialized nutrition with the acquisition of certain Dr. Schär products and its manufacturing facility in Rosbach, Germany.

The acquired brands, Mevalia and ComidaMed address the dietary management of Inborn Errors of Metabolism (IEM) and cow’s milk protein allergy.

Mevalia is a protein supplements brand for consumers with phenylketonuria (PKU), whereas ComidaMed offers hypoallergenic powdered mixtures, which can also address IEM. 

The brands will complement Vitaflo’s existing IEM product portfolio and geographic footprint, offering customers more variety.

The agreement also provides the opportunity for Dr. Schär, a specialist in specific dietary needs products, to focus even more on gluten-free and inclusive nutrition.

Philipp Schoeller, CEO at Dr. Schär tells NutritionInsight that the company will focus on its core brands Schär, Flavis and Kanso.

The transaction is expected to close July 1 and the financial details have not been disclosed. 

Mevalia protein supplements are formulated for the treatment of phenylketonuria.A specialized group
Inborn errors of metabolism can affect how food is processed by the body.  They are infrequent at an estimated 1 in 2,500-50,000 births, depending on the disorder, but persist from birth to adulthood. Examples include phenylketonuria (PKU), maple syrup urine disease and homocystinuria.

“It can be very challenging for people to manage IEM dietary requirements on a day-to-day basis,” says Caroline Charlesworth, CEO of Vitaflo.

“Our mission is to make this as easy as possible, creating clinical nutrition products that taste great and are easy to incorporate into a busy life.” 

“Dr. Schär has been developing products for special nutritional needs for almost 100 years, combining special, complex dietary requirements with great taste and quality profiles,” adds Charlesworth.

Demand increased for personalized nutrition
Food and beverages that can help meet demand for specific dietary needs are rising in demand.  

Schoeller affirms that the growth of the market for IEM and cow’s milk allergy products has “been attractive in the last years.” 

Arla Foods Ingredients recently highlighted that around 7 percent of babies now have a cow’s milk allergy.

“The demand is there and since Vitaflo has been an expert in this for a long time, it makes sense to put Dr. Schär’s knowledge in its hands to meet the demand even faster and more all-encompassing,” he says. 

Vitaflo’s goals naturally fit into Dr. Schär’s purpose, which is linked to “inclusive nutrition,” explains Schoeller. This is creating delicious food that makes consumers with different nutritional needs feel connected during meals or snack time.

“Nestlé Health Science shares our passion for health and well-being, and with this integration of the business within Vitaflo, we are positive that they will continue our successful journey in metabolic nutrition.” 

Nestlé acquired Vitaflo in 2010, making its step into the clinical nutrition market for people with IEM. 

More recently, in 2020, Nestlé Health Science revealed that its blend of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) positively shapes the gut microbiome of infants with cow’s milk protein allergy. 

By Missy Green