BioVittoria in US push

Biotech natural sweetener company BioVittoria says a major US beverage company will be the first to use its branded calorie-free fruit concentrate in a consumer beverage.

BioVittoria’s Fruit-Sweetness concentrate made from monk fruit grown and processed at its operation in China will be used in a new reduced calorie protein shake to be launched soon by California-based Maverick Brands, whose most well-known products are Sunkist juices and smoothies.

Maverick Brands would be the first company to launch a no-added sugar protein shake using Fruit-Sweeness, said BioVittoria chief executive David Thorrold.

He declined to give any further details of the deal, other than to say Maverick Brands was a “serious player” in the US beverage market.

BioVittoria, a private company whose IPO to raise up to NZ$20 million failed to get off the ground last year through lack of investor interest, was also working with the Washington-based Talking Rain Beverage company on a plan to use Fruit-Sweetness in a new enhanced-flavour water drink, Mr Thorrold said.

In February Hamilton-based BioVittoria’s product was was officially notified as Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS) by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Mr Thorrold said the US deals were very exciting coming so soon after GRAS clearance.

- © Fairfax NZ News