French flavour firm buys nutrition partner
Grasse-headquartered fragrance and flavours supplier Robertet said the acquisition of Bionov was in line with its “natural strategy” for its health and beauty division.
Bionov – based near Avignon in the south of France – specialises in the production of SuperOxide Dismutase (SOD), a nutrition ingredient extracted from the melon variety Cucumis melo. L.
The company describes its ingredient as a "key antioxidant metallo-enzyme naturally present in our body".
"SOD is ubiquitous to all forms of life and protects living beings from oxidation for over two billion years," Bionov writes on its website.
Bionov products containing the extract include cellulite-fighting Dimpless and stress-beating Extramel as well as antioxidant animal feed ingredient Melofeed, which is exclusively distributed by Lallemand.
The acquisition builds on a strategic partnership between Robertet and Bionov announced back in early 2015, which aimed to boost the use of Dimpless in food applications.
Commenting on the acquisition, sales and marketing director for Robertet's health and beauty division, Thomas Ughetto, told us: "Since it was launched, the market against cellulite by oral route has been steadily growing with several nutricosmetic companies using this ingredient mainly in Europe.
"We will continue developing the sales of Dimpless thanks to the international sales force of Robertet and our partners."
Studying cellulite
Last year Bionov released results of a study into the reduction of cellulite in 41 women.
According to the paper published in Phytothérapie, 71% of the women experienced a visible reduction at day 28 of the experiment and 67% at day 56.
Bionov told us at the time there was a gap in the market for oral strategies against cellulite.
A second clinical study was also in the pipeline.
The UK's National Health Service (NHS) describes cellulite as a "cosmetic problem caused by fatty deposits that form underneath the skin".
It advises: "If you're overweight, losing weight is the best way of dealing with cellulite."
