PL Thomas: Where Food & Health Meet

Marvin and Paul Flowerman have devoted a combined 86 years to their enterprise. Marvin’s business activities date back to 1946 when he made his first hydrocolloids purchase after joining a New York-based ingredients distributor. He then started his own business in 1948, incorporating in 1952. P.L. Thomas & Co., Inc. (PLT), New York, NY, was born in 1955 as a partnership between Marvin and Paul Greene, whose interests were acquired by Marvin in 1982. Paul Flowerman, the company’s current president, joined his father’s business in 1976.

According to Paula Nurnberger, marketing manager, P.L. Thomas’ involvement in the nutraceuticals industry was the result of a natural growth process. “The natural food and drug OTC additives P.L. Thomas has been selling since its inception are ingredients of plant origin with value to the nutraceuticals industry,” she said. “Water soluble gums suitable for texturizing foods are also natural soluble fibers with health benefits. In addition, the company’s prior experience sourcing ingredients, especially from underdeveloped countries, prepared the company well for its eventual activity in the dietary supplement industry.”

Today, PLT internationally sources, markets and sells ingredients of plant origin to the food and nutraceuticals industries. The company has dedicated itself to securing the highest quality raw materials, and its innovation and commitment to provide its customers ingredient solutions has been increasingly recognized in the food, functional food and nutritional supplement industries. Specializing in clinically supported and branded botanical extracts, hydrocolloids (water-soluble gums), fruit and vegetable extracts, mineral gluconates, specialty nutraceuticals, and micro- and nano-encapsulation technologies, PLT has positioned itself not only as a supplier, but also as a partner in the product development process.

Seeking to broaden its global reach and expand its already diverse portfolio of ingredient offerings, PLT recently formed a strategic alliance with Laila Impex, a leading supplier of food and nutraceutical ingredients in India, to develop and market unique herbal extracts. Currently, PLT markets Laila’s products and technologies. Under terms of the agreement, Laila’s analytical capabilities, in-vitro and in-vivo testing facilities, new state-of-the-art extraction factories, and network of scientists will be coupled with P.L. Thomas’ marketing and sales experience.

On the research front, P.L. Thomas recently released the results of a study showing that one of its leading branded ingredients, GliSODin, increases superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels and protects against oxidative stress. The results, published in Phytotherapy Research, concluded that supplementation with GliSODin promoted cellular antioxidant status and protected against oxidative stress-induced cell death.

Another study recently conducted by the company using Gli­SODin demonstrated significant protection against the deleterious effects of the sun. Conducted by French dermatologists over a 60-day period, 150 volunteers participated in the open trial designed to gauge the effect of GliSODin in individuals susceptible to flushing and burns, sun allergy, and other reactions such as pruritus, solar eczema and rashes. In the study, 86% of the participants experienced significant protection.

Discussing the state of the industry was PLT’s president, Mr. Flowerman. “Through much trial and error, the nutraceuticals industry is evolving into a genuine, positive force that may factor into solving the riddle of the national healthcare crisis,” he said. “Prevention and maintenance of healthy conditions are the provinces of nutraceuticals, and as an industry, our credibility to participate more actively in the big issues.”—T.W.


P.L. Thomas
119 Headquarters Plaza
Morristown, NJ 07960
Telephone: 973-984-0900
Fax: 973-984-5666; 973-984-0008
E-mail: paulan@plthomas.com
Website: www.plthomas.com