High purity beta-glucan: Danisco acquires equity stake in health and nutrition ingredient company GraceLinc Ltd.

As a soluble dietary fibre ingredient, Glucagel™ has potential health benefits, particularly for cardiovascular health, digestive health and glucose and weight management. The cardiovascular health benefits of cereal beta-glucans are attributable to their widely studied cholesterol-lowering properties. In addition, beta-glucans are low glycaemic and hence suitable for consumers seeking low impact carbohydrates including diabetics.

Cereal beta-glucans have the potential to capture a significant share of the market for soluble dietary fibres which is estimated at more than EUR 400 million. The purchase is the start of a partnership aimed to make Glucagel™ a category leading functional food and dietary supplement ingredient. When key milestones – relating to completion of human intervention studies and process development – are met, Danisco plans to move to full ownership of the start-up company.

’We are delighted to seize this early stage opportunity. Becoming a GraceLinc shareholder is a further step towards becoming our customers’ First choice ingredient partner within health and nutrition. It will at the same time strengthen our leading position in speciality carbohydrates. Glucagel™ is a very innovative beta-glucan ingredient because it has a high purity and is easy to formulate without affecting taste or odour of the foods to which it is added. This unique combination of health benefits and ease of application is why we expect a lot from Glucagel™ in the future,’ says Fabienne Saadane-Oaks, President of Danisco Bio Actives.

Glucagel™ can be used in a wide range of applications such as bakery, nutrition bars, beverages, dairy and dietary supplements. Food manufacturers, particularly in Europe and Asia, have shown strong interest in the product and food products containing Glucagel™ are already on the market in Europe.

’Together with Danisco, Glucagel™ has the potential to become a leader in its ingredient category and we are also pleased that Danisco’s investment will benefit New Zealand’s export food business. Glucagel™ is an example of a New Zealand research and development innovation which has built significant business value and this success comes on the back of more than a decade of fundamental and applied research carried out by New Zealand scientists,’ says Paddy Boyle, Chairman of GraceLinc.

For more information, please contact:
Natalie E. Weber, Media Relations Manager, Danisco, tel.: +45 32 66 29 27, mobile: +45 28 76 51 04, e-mail: natalie.weber@danisco.com

Paddy Boyle, Chairman, GraceLinc, tel.: +64 21 606 480

Katherine Trought, Communications Manager, GraceLinc, tel.: +64 3 325 9580, mobile +64 27 431 3261, e-mail: troughtk@crop.cri.nz

About GraceLinc
GraceLinc is owned by the New Zealand government-owned research company Crop & Food Research. GraceLinc markets Glucagel™, a naturally-extracted, high purity barley beta-glucan ingredient. GraceLinc is a successful New Zealand export-oriented company with an established manufacturing plant employing 20 staff in New Zealand.  Find out more at www.glucagel.com.