Kemin and AVT Enter Critical Global Strategic Partnership

The marketplace has benefited from the existing long-standing relationship between Kemin and AVT Natural and the new long-term commitment ensures supply chain efficiency, reliability, safety and quality.

11/11/08 Kemin Industries Inc., creator of FloraGLO Lutein the world’s leading lutein brand, and AVT Natural Products Limited (AVT Natural), the world’s leading producer of marigold oleoresin, announce a long-term “Critical Global Strategic Partnership Agreement.” The marketplace has benefited from the existing long-standing relationship between Kemin and AVT Natural and the new long-term commitment ensures supply chain efficiency, reliability, safety and quality.

Under the terms of the new global agreement, AVT Natural exclusively supplies to Kemin, and Kemin exclusively purchases from AVT Natural all marigold oleoresin used to formulate FloraGLO crystalline lutein for manufacture into quality nutritional product forms. The FloraGLO product forms are distributed to the supplement, food and over-the-counter pharmaceutical industries.

The “Critical Global Strategic Partnership Agreement” between Kemin and AVT Natural compliments the existing long-term strategic alliance between Kemin and DSM Nutritional Products (DSM). The long-term Kemin and DSM partnership formalized last year aims to significantly grow lutein usage globally with the two companies collaborating in important areas, such as ongoing lutein research. Under the terms of the Kemin and DSM global alliance, Kemin exclusively supplies its FloraGLO crystalline lutein to DSM and DSM exclusively purchases lutein from Kemin. DSM globally commercializes FloraGLO Lutein product forms through distributors and directly to customers in the dietary supplement, food and beverage and over-the-counter pharmaceutical industries.

Sourced from marigold flowers grown by AVT Natural in India and purified from marigold flower oleoresin extracted by AVT Natural, FloraGLO Lutein is the world's leading patented, purified lutein used in quality supplements and foods worldwide. Numerous peer-reviewed studies link the natural antioxidant lutein with important eye-health benefits. New and emerging science indicates lutein promotes healthy skin and improves visual function in the areas of glare relief and recovery, contrast acuity and blue light protection.

“We are extremely excited to secure the most reliable and trusted marigold oleoresin supply source in the world. The marketplace understands what happens when quality, safety, traceability or reliability is compromised,” stated Rodney Ausich, President at Kemin Health. “AVT’s agribusiness expertise and proven leadership is second to none in the industry and complements our commercial efforts exceptionally well. We are convinced that the combined strengths of AVT and Kemin will provide greater value to customers and the marketplace,” said Dr. Chris Nelson, Worldwide President at Kemin Industries. “We are excited to provide supply chain peace of mind to FloraGLO customers and are proud to contribute towards the worldwide success of the FloraGLO brand,” said Ajit Thomas, Chairman of AVT Natural.