Fortitech: First in Fortification

Over the past several years, Fortitech, Schenectady, NY, has continued to expand its global presence, further establishing itself as a leading pro­vider of custom developed nutrient premixes in the nutraceuticals industry. In 2002, Fortitech and BASF formed a joint venture for the manufacture, marketing and sales of human nutrition premix products. Under the agreement, BASF transferred its premix customers in Europe, Asia, South America and Africa to the international companies of Fortitech. In addition, Fortitech assumed ownership of BASF’s premix manufacturing facilities in Denmark and Malaysia.

According to Maria Battista, director of marketing, the Fortitech/BASF joint venture provided unprecedented ac­cess to scientific research and expert consultation in the development and delivery of innovative, high-quality nutrient premixes. “This has enabled food, drink and other manufacturers worldwide to better anticipate, create and meet market demands,” she said.

On the acquisition front, 2003 saw Fortitech take over the nutritional premix blending business of Ashland Distributions Company. With the manufacturing operation located in Fontana, CA, Ms. Battista said this acquisition allowed Fortitech to better serve the West Coast of the U.S. marketplace and meet the rising market demand for premixes there.

In early 2005, Fortitech Europe ApS opened a new state-of-the-art facility in Gadstrup, Denmark. The new manufacturing and laboratory space is exclusively dedicated to nutrient premix manufacturing and contains a high-tech laboratory for developing and testing premixes. The Gadstrup facility significantly increases the company’s manufacturing and premix development capabilities to offer customers flexible batch sizes, faster turnaround times, as well as increased technical support. The design of the new Gadstrup facility is modeled after Fortitech’s ISO 9001:2000 certified manufacturing facilities in Schenectady, NY. and Campinas, Brazil.

Other recent developments at the company include the launch of a new and expanded website located at fortitech.com. The new site gives customers round-the-clock access to consistently updated information, including market insights, trend intelligence and instant account information.

In a constantly evolving landscape, Fortitech has witnessed a number of changes over the past several years in the nutraceuticals industry. “The speed of product innovation and new product introductions has significantly increased as functional beverages have become more mainstream,” Ms. Battista said, adding, “We cannot simply be a nutrient premix supplier. We are a research and development partner and a valued consultant at every phase of the product development cycle. We are the focal point of fortification knowledge, offering a global view of nutrition trends, solutions and opportunities.”

Offering her opinion on the state of the industry, Ms. Battista said it is poised for continued growth, fueled in general by increasingly knowledgeable end consumers who have a heightened interest in promoting health through foods and beverages. In addition, she said, consumers are also becoming more aware of serious health issues. “Two of the most pressing global health issues are obesity and ensuring the bioavailability of nutrients for key demographics in need of nutrients. The increased number of people who are obese in our society must be at the forefront of issues for food manufacturers and product developers,” she said. “Working together, the food industry must look for ways to cut out unnecessary fat and create healthier options for consumers. In addition, there is much that our industry can do to address the issue of world hunger and those who are suffering from nutrient deficiencies. While there are many worthwhile food aid collaborations and projects occurring around the world, it is critical that food scientists work to ensure that the critical nutrients fortified into products going to these target demographics are bioavailable.”—T.W.


Fortitech
Riverside Technology Park
2105 Technology Drive
Schenectady, NY 12308
Telephone: 518-372-5155
Fax: 518-372-5599
E-mail: battistam@fortitech.com
Website: www.fortitech.com