Natraceutical and Bühler Jointly Patented an Exclusive Integral Service for the Pet Food Market

The European food industry for dogs and cats reached a market value of 13 thousand million Euros in 2007, of which it is estimated that over 30% belongs to the “premium” food category, which is the target for this new patent.

07/07/08 Natraceutical Group, a biotech multinational leader in Europe in the research and development of functional ingredients, active principles and food supplements, and the Swiss company Bühler, world-wide leader in technology for the food industry, are combining their extensive knowledge of food ingredients and technological production processes to produce a new integral service. The joint development will enable them to offer the pet food market a coca-derivative exclusive ingredient, developed by Natraceutical Group’s R+D team, with high content in polyphenols (antioxidants) and low contents in theobromine (an alkaloid with negative effects on the health of several pet races), together with the industrial technology from Bühler, which prevents the degradation of coca antioxidant properties. This unique service will guarantee a high concentration of healthy compounds in the final product where this ingredient is added.

This project is the result of Natraceutical and Bühler’s common interest to go one step forward in the implementation of their technology, since the new service will provide their customers with solutions that guarantee the full conservation of nutrients in their final products. One of the main concerns in the food industry, as far as the processing of functional ingredients is concerned, is their possible degradation at high temperatures.

The project with Bühler has resulted in a joint patent that will protect the intellectual property and the innovative capacity of both companies. It will be targeted to the European premium dog food market, a sector of substantial growth, and in which Natraceutical has had very little penetration until now.

As an indication, the European food industry for dogs and cats reached a market value of 13 thousand million Euros in 2007, of which it is estimated that over 30% belongs to the “premium” food category, which is the target for this new patent.

Chocolate is highly desired by most animals. However, it contains a high level of theobromine, which is detrimental to the health of many pets, including dogs and cats. Although such compounds have beneficial effects on humans, these animals cannot metabolize them efficiently, leading to the development of health problems of both the cardiac and nervous systems.

With a track record of over 60 years in the field of research and development of functional ingredients, Natraceutical Group’s R+D team has been developing a new line of activity over the past year. The company has signed collaboration contracts with leading food companies, with the aim to develop solutions for their specific needs, in the shape of exclusive ingredients for their foodstuff. This commercial trend enables Natraceutical to develop new highly-profitable functional ingredients, since they are developed upon the request of the final food producers.