NEWS IN BRIEF
Roquette adds to ‘new EU distribution network’ with Barentz on board
The deal will see Dutch-based Barentz expand the distribution network to include Austria, Cyprus, France, Iceland, Ireland, Malta, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Between now and the end of 2018 both firms will work to supply Roquette’s product range to customers in these countries with the exception of the UK, Ireland and France where co-operation will start on the 1st of July 2019.
“Having worked together successfully at the logistics and strategic levels for many years, the preferred distributor status is a logical step in the cooperation between Roquette and Barentz,” commented Laurent Cousin, head of global distribution management at Roquette.
The decision closely follows Roquette’s recent decision to appoint Azelis as a preferred distributor for Food and Nutrition markets in Europe.
In a similar agreement, the partnership will cover Germany, Austria and Nordics / Baltics. The partnership will also include south Italy, Russia, Ukraine, and other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) as of 1 January 2019.
‘A new distribution network’
Speaking of a wider company objective, a spokesperson for Roquette said the firm was “Currently implementing a new distribution network to support its growth in plant-based ingredients for Food, Nutrition and Health”.
“Our selected distributors will be our key business partners to achieve our ambitions and they will operate in the different markets and countries in a complementary way.”
Plant-based ingredients, particularly proteins are increasingly resonating with consumers looking to address their health and the impact on the environment.
According to Lux Research, total protein demand is expected to double by 2054 to 943.5m metric tons; driven by demography, economic development and urbanisation, and new eating behaviours.
Pea protein, in particular is expected to show strong growth in the human nutrition market, especially for new innovative sources like pea, which Frost and Sullivan say has an annual growth rate of 14% in revenues.
“Pea protein offers many advantages to farmers, customers and consumers,” Roquette said.
“Its production is environmentally friendly and is a great source of protein, with numerous applications in sports and slimming foods, senior nutrition and clinical nutrition.”
