Kerry and PFI Enter Partnership For Development of Joint Health Technology
Kerry (Ireland) has announced that it has agreed a strategic licensing partnership with Pharma Foods International Co. Ltd. (PFI) for the development, application and global sales of a joint health ingredient technology for functional foods and beverages and dietary supplements.
PFI, based in Kyoto, Japan, is a pioneer and leader in ingredients developed from natural food origins for application into functional products, nutraceuticals, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, according to the companies.
The partnership and licensing agreement provides Kerry access to the joint health technology developed by PFI through more than a decade of research. The ingredient promotes the natural production of hyaluronic acid, keeping joints lubricated and mobile and ultimately helping to reduce discomfort and stiffness in knee joints and providing benefit to people with osteoarthritis. As it is a water-soluble ingredient that has no impact to taste in formulation, it creates opportunities for functional food and beverage applications as well as dietary supplements. The ingredient has already been formulated into several products in the Japanese market and Kerry will be developing a brand positioning for the technology, supporting application and development and supplying the ingredient to customers across the world.
“Our proprietary consumer research has revealed that consumers want healthy lifestyle products that also have a positive impact on bone and joint health,” said John Quilter, vice president & general manager for Kerry’s ProActive Health business. “Today’s consumers are more informed about the ingredients in their functional products—with 56 percent reporting that they regularly research ingredients that can help improve health. We are delighted to partner with PFI, a leader in functional ingredient innovation, on this new joint health technology which will complement our portfolio of science-backed branded ingredients, including GanedenBC30 probiotic, Wellmune yeast beta glucan, and our most recent addition, Bio-K Plus probiotics.”
“We are very pleased and excited to be working with Kerry,” added Dr. Mujo Kim, CEO of PFI. “PFI has been researching and developing original unique materials for the global market and now that we have established a cooperative relationship with Kerry, we will be able to accelerate our global expansion. We expect strong synergies between PFI’s research capabilities and Kerry’s global commercial network.”
For more information, visit www.kerry.com or www.pharmafoods.co.jp/en/.
