Martek Signs Multi-Year Sole-Source Supply Agreement with Numico
The agreement provides for a 15-year term, with Numico having the right to terminate the arrangement as of January 2012. Martek has supplied DHA and ARA to Numico for infant formula products since 1994 under an existing license agreement.
20/02/08 Martek Biosciences Corporation has announced that it has entered into a multi-year license and supply agreement with Numico, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danone and a leading worldwide producer of infant formula products. Under the terms of the agreement, Martek will serve as Numico's exclusive supplier for all of its ARA and microbially-derived DHA needs for infant formula products. Numico may continue to use alternative non-microbial DHA sources. The agreement provides for a 15-year term, with Numico having the right to terminate the arrangement as of January 2012. Martek has supplied DHA and ARA to Numico for infant formula products since 1994 under an existing license agreement.
Numico is a high-growth specialized nutrition company, and one of the fastest-growing international food companies. The Baby Food division specializes in food for the healthy growth and development of infants and toddlers (0-3 years old) through an extensive range of safe, nutritionally superior and convenient products. Numico holds the market leadership positions in 25 of its 33 infant formula markets worldwide.
Martek manufactures nutritional oils that contain the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids DHA and ARA, both of which are naturally present in breast milk. Clinical studies have demonstrated benefits for infants receiving formula supplemented with DHA and ARA. Martek's proprietary blend of DHA and ARA, marketed under the brand names life'sDHA and life'sARA, is currently used in over 97 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 70 countries worldwide.
"We are pleased to further strengthen our relationship with Numico, one of the world's leading infant formula and nutrition companies, and believe this agreement again demonstrates that companies around the world continue to recognize the importance of adding DHA and ARA to infant formula," said Steve Dubin, Martek CEO. "With this new agreement, more than 70 percent of Martek's business in the infant formula market is subject to multi-year sole source agreements."
