Kerry, the taste and nutrition company, has announced that it has reached agreement to acquire the Canadian company Bio-K Plus International.
Bio-K Plus is a probiotic company which produces probiotic beverage and supplement applications in the North American market and will expand Kerry’s capabilities and leadership position in the probiotics market, the Irish company says.
According to Kerry in a statement, the acquisition “expands Kerry’s portfolio of probiotics and reflects the growing number of consumers who are becoming more proactive in their approach to managing their health and are turning to functional foods, beverages and supplements that are made with clinically supported functional ingredients.
Bio-K Plus products are formulated with three proprietary and clinically validated strains of probiotics which have confirmed efficacy for a range of therapeutic benefits, including the prevention of side effects resulting from antibiotic use.
Headquartered in Quebec, Canada, Bio-K Plus develops, manufactures, and distributes clinically supported probiotic fermented beverages and supplements under the Bio-K Plus brand throughout North America.
The company has 134 employees and operates two facilities, one located in Quebec, and the second in California.
Commenting on the acquisition, Neil Cracknell, president of Kerry Applied Health and Nutrition, said:
“Research has shown that consumers are increasingly looking for nutritional benefits when purchasing food and drink and that products which contain probiotics that improve gut health are specifically in demand.”