EID Parry acquired a 48% strategic stake in U.S. Nutraceuticals doing business as Valensa International. Valensa's "Direct to Marketers" product development and business strategy will be expanded under a new management team led by Valensa's president, Dr. Rudi E. Moerck, which includes executives from both companies. With the Valensa investment, Parry becomes a marketing partner and a strategic source of botanical materials and technology for new and existing Valensa products in the fast-growing areas of omega-3 essential fatty acids (ALA, EPA and DHA); phycocyanins and carotenoids including astaxanthin, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin; and others. The new arrangement is expected to strengthen Valensa's ability to market its science-based products globally. Current areas of co-marketing between the companies include astaxanthin and Valensa's patented SpiruZan, a Spirulina/Astaxanthin product co-launched by the two companies at Natural Products Expo East in Boston and HI Europe in Paris.

According to Moerck, the companies have the same philosophies on sustainable natural product production and focus on natural ingredients made using environmentally responsible technology such as Valensa's organic-certified supercritical carbon dioxide extraction plant in Florida. "Parry Nutraceuticals shares Valensa International's commitment to creating the highest-quality products based on the best available science for the condition-specific human health and nutrition market," he said. "Parry Nutraceuticals is one of the leading producers of ultra-high-quality raw materials including organic Spirulina and carotenoids like beta carotene, astaxanthin, lutein and tomato lycopene. Our cooperative new product development work with Parry will allow us to accelerate our new product development efforts to deliver some of the most exciting new products to the market," he added.

From the December 5, 2008, Prepared Foods e-Flash