Kerry, Naas, Ireland, said it expanded its clean-label food protection capabilities through the acquisition of two innovative companies, IsoAge Technologies and Biosecur Lab Inc. These acquisitions enhance Kerry’s leadership in the clean-label space and expand the company’s capacity to serve this rapidly growing market.
“When we combine IsoAge Technologies’ natural and sustainable food safety solutions with Biosecur Lab’s natural citrus extract-based antimicrobials and Kerry’s existing food protection solutions, we will be able to protect even more food naturally,” said Neil Cracknell, CEO of applied health and nutrition at Kerry. “Together, our combined innovation capability is significant, and we will work collaboratively to develop the future of natural food-protection solutions.”
Kerry said research it conducted confirmed that there is a strong consumer desire for the removal of artificial ingredients in food and beverages. The market for consumer-friendly shelf-life solutions is estimated at more than $1 billion globally, and it is growing at twice the pace of the artificial preservatives market. This high demand can create significant challenges for food safety and further increase food waste.
Kerry said it understands the complexity of keeping food safe over its shelf life. It involves inhibiting the growth of pathogens and spoilage organisms and shielding from taste degradation, all while delivering on a tasty, nutritious and enjoyable product with a clean label. Keeping food fresh, safe and appealing is the ultimate goal of food producers, and Kerry supports food producers in achieving this with its range of food cupboard solutions.
“With these acquisitions, Kerry has the broadest food protection portfolio in the industry. We pride ourselves on our authentic ingredients, our primary production capabilities and providing full transparency to our customers,” said Brian Nevin, vice president of business development, food protection and fermentation for Kerry. “Both IsoAge Technologies and Biosecur Lab Inc. offer unique natural portfolios of patented shelf-life technologies, which will greatly enhance Kerry’s global market leadership.”
