Naturex strengthens market positions in the natural nutrition segment

Naturex acquires Swedish Oat Fiber, a specialised Swedish manufacturer of oat dietary fibers, oat oils and oat proteins

Naturex, specialising in plant-based natural ingredients, announces its acquisition of Swedish Oat Fiber, a Swedish manufacturer of oat-based extracts and ingredients.

A key player in its market over the last 25 years

Pursuing its strategy to accelerate the development of its specialty product portfolio, Naturex completes its third external growth operation of the year by acquiring Swedish Oat Fiber. Swedish Oat Fiber holds a strong geographical footprint as a producer of oat beta glucans dietary fibers, oat oils and oat proteins for the food industry, and other nutraceutical, cosmetic and animal feed applications.

Swedish Oat Fiber's head office and manufacturing site are located in Bua near Gothenburg on the west coast of Sweden in one of the most favourable oat growing regions.

Science and innovation have been key drivers of Swedish Oat Fiber's development; there have been many published clinical studies on oat dietary fibers which have resulted in a number of health claims - such as lowering cholesterol levels - approved by various regulatory authorities throughout the world.

Operating across the entire value chain, the company is a valued addition to Naturex's business development model.

Swedish Oat Fiber offers competitive differentiation based on solid fundamentals:

• Traceability and quality raw materials based on long-term partnerships with local farmers and organic supplies to ensure secure sourcing, and the quality of the oat varieties selected for their high content in beta glucans fibers.
• Technological know-how based on a unique fractionating process for producing beta glucans designed and optimised to preserve the original and natural structure of their molecules. This know-how also makes it possible to obtain fine oat flours with different protein and fat content as well as oil rich in polar lipids.
• Scientific expertise as the key innovation driver to develop new products through active research projects, in particular on the cardiovascular health benefits of oat beta-glucans. Furthermore, by publishing clinical studies in collaboration with scientists and academic experts to obtain recognition of health claims by international food safety regulators.

These three focus areas are perfectly aligned with Naturex's value proposition (source – convert – deliver) and its model for sustainable and responsible development emphasising traceability, quality and innovation.

The objective is in this way to provide its customers with natural solutions based on unique scientific research for the well-being of end consumers.

Convergence between functional foods and natural nutrition

Growing consumer awareness of the relationship between food, well-being and health, population ageing, changing lifestyles, and dietary behaviour are contributing to the emergence of food products, beverages and dietary supplements that are at the same time nutritional, healthy and functional.

The Swedish Oat Fiber offering will contribute to strengthening Naturex's presence in the nutrition segment by converging its position of existing products:

• Added value to our existing cardiovascular health segment, contributing to reduced risk factors relating to a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.
• The addition of oat beta-glucan fibers to Naturex’s current portfolio (Aronia, cocoa flavanols, olive leafs ...) will offer customers an additional natural solution with beneficial effects on cholesterol levels, scientifically proven and recognised by EFSA in Europe (articles 13.1 and 14), the FDA in the United States and the OFSP (Federal Office for Public Health) in Switzerland.
• Future diversification of the plant-based protein range by offering protein contained in oat flour. This development will strengthen Naturex’s offering in the nutrition range to address the emergence of new lifestyles and dietary behaviour like vegetarianism and veganism. With this new source of oat-based protein, Naturex completes its range which includes notably proteins from Shiitake mushrooms fermented under its partnership agreement with MycoTechnology.

Peo Crona, Chief Executive Officer of Swedish Oat Fiber commented this announcement: "We are convinced that Naturex will know how to provide a new strategic impetus to Swedish Oat Fiber and support its development and future projects through its international commercial network R&D support and the expertise of its network of application laboratories.”

Olivier Rigaud, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Naturex, added: "This acquisition will support our development and diversification strategy into very promising market segments, such as dietary fibers with strong health claims, and specialty plant-based proteins, in line with new consumer trends.”

Companies

• Naturex
• Swedish Oat Fiber AB