Omega oil: Epax set to invest US$35m in a bid to boost output by 50 percent by 2021

02 Oct 2019 --- Marine oil manufacturing company Epax will invest US$35 million over the next two years to increase capacity by more than 50 percent by 2021 and boost innovation in the sector. This cash injection aims to expand capacity at its main production facility in Ålesund, Norway, focusing mainly on North Atlantic fish species, from the west coast of Norway. It will also allow further investigation in the marine ingredients sector in terms of concentration, purity and quality, notes the company.

“Omega 3 has enjoyed a lot of mass media coverage in recent years, increasing interest from both brand owners and consumers. At Epax, we have seen a significant increase in customer-specific formulas and base products, mainly in ‘Ultra Concentrates,’ which are products with more than 700 mg/g eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). We’ve also noted rising interest in all key markets, with strong demand for very high concentrates as the common denominator,” Thomas Gulbrandsen, Global Sales and Marketing Director at Epax, tells NutritionInsight.

Omega 3 fatty acids play an important role in the human diet and in human physiology.“We have a responsibility to push the limits of what is possible. This substantial investment will create new possibilities for the marine ingredients sector in terms of concentration, purity and quality. We’re particularly excited about our new distillation process, which we believe is the most effective and environmentally friendly way to achieve high levels of EPA and DHA without creating unwanted by-products and waste materials,” says Bjørn Refsum, CEO of Epax.

As research continues to show that demand for EPA and DHA oils by far outpaces the current supply, Gulbrandsen emphasizes the importance of introducing other sources for omega 3 besides fish. 

“Algae-based omega 3 oils have been very strong in infant nutrition, and this market is definitely still growing. For dietary supplements, which is our core market, plant-based options are still quite niche, and mainly attractive to vegans and vegetarians due to cost. We are, of course, constantly monitoring and evaluating new sources and technologies,” he says.

Fish oil is widely sold in capsules containing a mixture of omega 3 fatty acids, including EPA and DHA. The latter is a primary structural component of the human brain, cerebral cortex, skin, and retina. It can be synthesized from alpha-linolenic acid or obtained directly from breast milk, fish oil or algae oil.

Showcasing its specialties
Within its field, Epax has created a range of marine oil products that offer quality, purity and organoleptic properties. Exhibiting at this year’s SupplySide West, October 17 to 18 in Las Vegas, US, the company will showcase products including:

• EPAX 0460 TGN and EPAX 1500 TGN: High-DHA products ideal for prenatal and postnatal health, children’s health and healthy aging.
• EPAX 5025 TGN: A high omega 3 product typically used in formulations targeting healthy inflammatory response and sports nutrition.

All three products are certified sustainable and responsibly sourced by Friend of the Sea (FOS) and the Marine Ingredients Organisation (IFFO). They are also certified Halal.

The alpha omega
Omega 3 has moved into the mainstream track of supplements, but it is vital to maintain positive momentum to prevent consumer fatigue, or even apathy. This is according to experts in the field, who note that the robust health benefits that omega 3 is associated with have driven its success. However, maintaining its clinical backing is imperative, as is continued commitment to respond to the far-reaching animal-free trend, to which omega is no exception.

Within the growing fish-free trend, algal-based omega oil is gaining speed in the supplement industry. French marine lipid expert Polaris acquired European authorization for its new, “super-concentrated, ultra-purified” algal omega 3 oil this month. Within this space’s expansion, a recent study will make it possible to calculate how much omega 3 EPA and DHA is needed for study subjects to reach a healthy omega 3 Index. 

By Anni Schleicher