Kerry Group and IOI Loders Croklaan are to form a joint venture company to develop and market the infant nutrition Betapol business.
IOI Loders Croklaan is a Dutch company who manufacture oils and fats for the food industry, including infant nutrition.
Kerry Group says that both companies expect to conclude agreements over the coming weeks and it will be an equal share partnership.
Betapol is a speciality lipid for infant nutrition and Kerry Group says this new venture will be able to reach global markets more effectively while also expanding into other key nutrition market areas.
IOI Loders Croklaan is the creator of Betapol and was the first company to introduce OPO-type fats to the market. Primary production of Betapol takes place at IOI Loders Croklaan’s enzymatic facility in Malaysia and the company also has additional blending capacity in Wormerveer, The Netherlands.
Kerry Group has a dedicated commercial and nutritional science teams delivering a broad portfolio of scientifically based nutritional products for all consumer life stages. The company says that with this partnership the group will co-develop and market Betapol, fulfilling consumer needs and expanding into new markets.
Kerry Group says that the new joint venture will be responsible for business development and innovation. Betapol will be integrated into Kerry’s global nutritional ingredients portfolio, backed by unparalleled global applications, marketing and sales support, it says.
Michael O’Neill, President of Kerry’s Nutrition Division said that IOI Loders Croklaan has a
vertically integrated supply chain and is the world’s most experienced and trusted producer of OPO-type fats.
“Working together in this strategic partnership will deliver the same high quality ingredients with additional future product enhancement and global support,” he said.