Chr. Hansen boosts innovation within human health

The new division reinforces the focus on discovering and developing innovative probiotic applications for the non-food market. Chr. Hansen offers the dietary supplement market a range of documented probiotic concepts with health benefits.

28/08/07 Chr. Hansen has introduced a new business division with focus on human health. The last year's strong growth within especially probiotics has lead to this decision. The new organization is a proactive means to meet the health trend and to speed up and energize the innovation process and pipeline for Chr. Hansen’s human health ingredients.

The new division reinforces the focus on discovering and developing innovative probiotic applications for the non-food market. Already today, Chr. Hansen offers the dietary supplement market a range of documented probiotic concepts with health benefits.

"We have over the last couple of years seen significant growth in our human health business area and identified new and exiting areas for probiotic applications. We feel the time is right to broaden the business and use our well-renowned expertise on probiotics even more. We are quite confident that we will experience further growth in this area, as we already today have developed the best documented probiotic strains in the world," says Lars Frederiksen, President and CEO, Chr. Hansen.

Henrik Dalbøge is appointed Executive Vice President for the new Health & Nutrition Division. Henrik Dalbøge has a profound background within biotechnology, business development and innovation. Henrik Dalbøge joined Chr. Hansen in September, 2006 as Vice President for Human Health & Nutrition business unit, and has been successful in establishing a firm platform for future growth within the area.

In connection with the establishment of the new Health and Nutrition Division, Chr. Hansen has re-organized its innovation activities within the cultures and enzymes area into one new organization named INNOVATION. The objective for the new organisation is to put even more focus on customer driven innovation.

"In order to stay in front in a still faster moving market, we see this as an important step in speeding up our innovation processes. We are already an innovative company, where 20% of the culture business turnover comes from products younger than 3 years, but we believe we can do even better," says Lars Frederiksen.

Esben Laulund is appointed Vice President for the new INNOVATION organisation. Esben Laulund has served in several management positions over the past 21 years in Chr. Hansen and has been one of the key drivers of the success within food cultures and enzymes.

The timing of this re-organization is also influenced by the fact that Chr. Hansen’s
Executive Vice President for Corporate Research, Peter Olesen, has chosen to retire by the end of March 2008.

"By implementing the new organization now we assure a smooth transfer of knowledge and tasks in the coming months, where Peter Olesen will continue to work for Chr. Hansen as Chief Science Officer with special focus on functional foods and probiotics. His main tasks will be to strengthen the external network and relations to the scientific community," says Lars Frederiksen.

"Peter Olesen has contributed immensely to the modernization of the traditionally strong research approach at Chr. Hansen. Peter Olesen's dedication to the close relationship between food and health has been a strong driver and inspiration for the development of the health and nutrition area at Chr. Hansen," concludes Lars Frederiksen.