Maxum Foods have signed a deal with OptiBiotix Health Plc to manufacture and distribute their weight management technology, SlimBiome® in Australia and New Zealand. OptiBiotix Health Plc, based in the UK, is a leading life sciences business focused on harnessing the power of the human microbiome to tackle and manage chronic diseases.
Dustin Boughton, Director of Maxum Foods said “We are excited to be working with OptiBiotix in Australia and New Zealand. Our logistical and technical expertise and access to distribution channels within these markets means this is a natural fit for both companies. The manufacturing and supply of SlimBiome® is aligned with our goal of bringing innovative and high-quality products to our customers.”
Dr. Fred Narbel, Managing Director of OptiBiotix’s prebiotics division, commented, “We are pleased to announce the signing of a manufacturing and supply agreement with Maxum. We chose Maxum due to their knowledge of the Australian and New Zealand markets as well as their experience in distributing specialty ingredients like SlimBiome® and their reputation for supplying high-quality products to the food industry.”
SlimBiome® is an award-winning functional ingredient which is transforming the way weight loss is traditionally approached. The patented ingredient, which won ‘Weight Management Ingredient of the Year’ award at the Nutra Ingredients Awards 2018, contains a blend of non-digestible prebiotics and dietary fibres, to create a longer-lasting feeling of fullness. The ingredient also helps burn calories by promoting a healthy metabolism and maintains blood sugar levels to prevent overeating. It has been shown to reduce calorie intake by up to 20% and lower food cravings.
“SlimBiome® is suitable for a wide range of uses including snack bars, meal replacement shakes, dairy and bakery products. Our customers will be able to easily add this ingredient during product manufacture as it is heat stable and has no distinguishable taste,” said Mr Boughton.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2 in 3 Australian adults were overweight or obese in 2017-18, whereas the New Zealand Health Survey 2017/18 found that 1 in 3 adults were obese. As a result, consumers are seeking new ways to manage their weight and in Australia they are expected to spend AUS$320 million on dietary supplements, industry weight loss counselling services and related low-calorie foods in 2019-20 (source: ibisworld.com.au).
Mr Boughton explains, “It’s clear the demand for new weight management technology is becoming more prevalent today. Maxum Foods will be able to help food manufacturers across Australia and New Zealand answer these consumer demands, deliver innovative products and ultimately take their share of this 320-million-dollar market”.
