“Supplier needs to serve demand”: Kappa Bioscience expands vitamin K2 production in US
09 Feb 2021 --- Norway-based Kappa Bioscience is expanding its business in the US, as its vitamin K2 production has reached the point where “the number of clients and projects require dedicated local resources.”
The New Jersey-based entity, Kappa Ingredients USA, was established to meet the growing demand for vitamin K2. It allows the company to support its clients to a faster and greater degree with products that fit local needs.
Kappa further notes the US market is “one of the world’s largest regions for dietary supplements and functional foods.”
“The K2 segment is among the fastest-growing ingredient segments and vitamin K2 is the last vitamin to reach consumers,” Egil Greve, CEO of Kappa Bioscience, tells NutritionInsight.
“As the number of clients goes beyond special retail and vitamin K2 gains awareness, a supplier needs to serve the demand.”
Kappa will expand its local production to support its clients faster, says Greve.Heading west
Until recently, Kappa operated in the US through distributors and agents representing their business.
“We have previously produced with strategic partners in the US. This now will change through more in-depth co-operation with select manufactures and Kappa co-investment,” Greve explains.
The US move aims to create new regional jobs and partnerships, while expanding its offerings to include new products, features and services.
Also, Kappa will join forces with US universities and research institutes to develop further scientific evidence of the many health benefits of vitamin K2 in the MK-7 form.
“Kappa Bioscience is well poised for explosive growth internationally and I am excited to lead our expansion efforts,” Greve affirms.
Timing is everything
Over the past ten years, Kappa operated with partners and distributors to gradually build its US business.
“Establishing our own organization follows a natural development congruent to the size our business has reached, a need to better support our distributor AIDP and to communicate directly with our customers,” says Greve.
The decision to expand Kappa’s organization was taken more than a year ago. “The timing is surely influenced by the pandemic but in no ways slows us down,” he points out.
K2 versus COVID-19
Vitamin K2 gained industry attention in the past year due to its link with reduced COVID-19 mortality risk.
A Kappa Bioscience-funded study review from last October positioned vitamin K metabolism as the “potential missing link” between lung damage and thromboembolism – two of the most severe outcomes observed in COVID-19 patients.
A study in May revealed vitamin K2’s potential for lowering coronary heart disease risk. At the same time, K2 was found to function more effectively in the presence of vitamin D3.
By Anni Schleicher
