Martek Signs Multi-Year Sole-Source Supply Agreement with Hero

Hero is the parent company of Semper, an existing Martek licensee for infant formula, and Beech-Nut, a Martek food customer that includes Martek's life'sDHA in a line of baby foods and cereals.

19/09/08 Martek Biosciences Corporation has entered into a multi-year DHA and ARA license and supply agreement with Hero, an international consumer-foods company. Hero is the parent company of Semper, an existing Martek licensee for infant formula, and Beech-Nut, a Martek food customer that includes Martek's life'sDHA in a line of baby foods and cereals.

Under the terms of the agreement, Martek will serve as Hero's exclusive supplier for all of its ARA and DHA needs for infant formula products and growing-up milks intended for children up to three years of age, dietary foods for special medical purposes, and for weaning foods. Hero is an international brand-focused, consumer-foods group. Hero is positioned as a nutrition company with strong brands in its core categories of infant nutrition and fruit as well as cereals, decoration and glutenfree.

"This new agreement with Hero is another important step in Martek's effort to expand its international presence in the infant formula market," said Ethan Leonard, vice president of pediatric nutrition for Martek. "We are pleased to be working with Hero and believe this agreement again demonstrates that companies around the world continue to recognize the importance of adding Martek's trusted sources of DHA and ARA to products for infants and children."

Martek's proprietary blend of DHA and ARA, marketed under the brand names life'sDHA and life'sARA, is currently used in over 95 percent of U.S. infant formulas. Additionally, infant formula containing life'sDHA and life'sARA has been consumed by over 30 million infants in over 75 countries worldwide.