Suanfarma acquires Monteloeder: Product offering expansion and R&D to drive future goals

17 Feb 2022 --- Ingredient manufacturer Suanfarma has acquired a majority stake in Monteloeder, in a move set to expand R&D across the nutraceutical sphere.

“The nutraceutical industry has been undergoing a process of concentration and the entry of actors from other industries such as pharma and food for a few years now,” Adres Orts, marketing manager at Monteloeder tells NutritionInsight.

“Our competitors are getting bigger and bigger and joining the Suanfarma group allows us to take advantage of its wide commercial network, its wide network of suppliers, its financial strength and other advantages. In turn, they benefit from our knowledge of scientifically supported products and our commercial networks in Asia, the United States and Europe.”

Monteloeder is a botanical ingredient provider for dietary supplements as well as F&B. Both companies are based in Spain.Both companies describe a commitment to innovation and applied research. 

“Major step forward”
The acquisition will further develop Suanfarma’s presence in areas such as weight management, cardiovascular health, nutricosmetics, relaxation and sleep enhancement. 

“With this acquisition, Suanfarma has taken a major step forward, significantly strengthening its development and industrial capabilities in the nutritional sector, which enriches the groups’ capabilities with its own manufacturing and development capabilities for nutraceutical ingredients.” Monteloeder says.

“Suanfarma aims to expand Monteloeder’s product offering and capitalize on Monteloeder’s market-leading R&D department to strengthen innovation and the development of scientifically proven ingredients.”

According to Ortes, this will increase Monteloeder's commercial power and help the company benefit from a larger portfolio of products.

Demands for cardiovascular health are driven by consumers who are eying heart-healthy supplements to age healthy and avoid pharmaceuticals. The weight-management space has also seen growing interest, particularly in light of COVID-19 that spurred more health consciousness. Industry is also seeing soaring demand for sleep and relaxation supplements due to COVID-19 stress. 

Eying leading role across EU
Suanfarma is described as having a strong track record of successfully acquiring and integrating businesses globally.

In November last year, ArchiMed acquired a majority stake in SuanFarma, which is now supporting “an ambitious industry consolidation and organic expansion, aiming to make Suanfarma a European leader for pharma and nutraceutical ingredients.”

Outlining the reasoning behind the acquisition, Suanfarma notes Monteloeder has “an excellent reputation and legacy of trust in the nutraceutical and functional foods categories across the globe.” The acquisition will see Suanfarma have a stronger presence in nutricosmetics.

“Quality, science and innovation are the three pillars of the development powerhouse, with rich botanical raw materials of high-value health properties.”

Bringing together expertise
Suanfarma, founded in 1993, is a B2B life science partner specialized in the development, production, and commercialization of ingredients for the pharmaceutical, veterinary and nutraceutical industries. It has a commercial network with 12 local offices across the globe, providing services to more than 3,000 active customers in over 70 countries.

“Both companies are committed to innovation, development, and sustainability, working on applied research that anticipates market needs, developing solutions in line with market demands based on clinical studies.”

“For the Monteloeder staff this represents a unique opportunity to grow professionally within a larger organization. In both cases, the opportunity to transfer commercial, scientific, regulatory know-how that benefits everyone,” Ortes notes.

Monteloeder has long highlighted the importance of data in boosting tailored solutions to improve NPD. Last month, the company entered the tech space with a tailored nutrition app targeting weight loss and cardiovascular. Monteloeder said industry was struggling to shift toward a consumer-centric approach and launched the item to fill the gap. 

By Andria Kades