Starch Producers Unite to Market Novel Soluble Fiber in USA and Mexico

ROQUETTE Freres selected National Starch to help increase their sales/marketing coverage and applications depth in key target categories.

Starch producers National Starch Food Innovation and Roquette Freres have announced that the parties have signed a distribution agreement appointing National Starch as the exclusive distributor of the NUTRIOSE soluble fiber product line in food and beverage segments in the United States and Mexico.

The agreement took effect on January 1, 2006. Roquette Freres selected National Starch to help increase their sales/marketing coverage and applications depth in key target categories, according to Roquette's Bernard Doulle, Corporate Products Manager. France based Roquette Freres is recognized as Europe's second largest and one of the world's most diversified starch and starch derivatives businesses.

NUTRIOSE is a patented family of high-purity soluble fibers made from corn and wheat. National Starch will be responsible for sales of the NUTRIOSE products into all food and beverage categories except confections, nutrition bars, pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter dietary supplements and health care products. NUTRIOSE, a water-soluble fiber ingredient, is an excellent complement to National Starch's Hi-maize resistant starch insoluble fiber. NUTRIOSE soluble fiber is ideally suited for high-moisture applications, such as beverage and dairy, and fits with National Starch Food Innovation's focus on nutritional ingredients for digestive health and energy management.

Both NUTRIOSE soluble fiber and Hi-maize products address the concerns of health-conscious consumers who want to add fiber to their diets -- and get it through their favorite foods without compromising taste. Common sources of fiber include cereals, fruits and vegetables; however, fiber intake may also be increased by increasing the fiber content of foods. Food and beverage producers face two obstacles in doing so; that is, low digestive tolerance and the challenges associated with processing foods fortified with fiber, which can affect the solubility, viscosity, stability and taste of foods.

NUTRIOSE soluble fiber and National's Hi-maize provide the solution: NUTRIOSE products being soluble and preserving a great taste in finished products; Hi-maize being insoluble and not affecting the taste or texture of low-moisture foods. Both products have an outstanding digestive tolerance.

"We are very excited about securing the exclusive rights to the patent-protected NUTRIOSE product line," said Mike Klacik, Senior Director, Nutrition, National Starch Food Innovation. "NUTRIOSE soluble fiber adds to our Nutritional Ingredient portfolio and will allow us to better serve some of the fastest-growing segments of better-for-you foods and beverages."