It would be an understatement to say that 2021 was a challenging year, but those strains particularly impacted the natural products and nutraceuticals industries. From shipping delays to supply chain disruptions to quality issues, it has been a testament to the industrys resilience and commitment that products continued to hit the shelves and serve consumers. 

But these challenges also highlight the importance of choosing the right supplier for a companys product goals and having a true partner through the process. 

Considering its recent acquisition of NattoPharma and its clinically validated vitamin K2, MenaQ7, Nutraceutical Business Review spoke to Philippe Caillat, Global Marketing Director with Gnosis by Lesaffre, one of the industry’s most esteemed and long-standing suppliers.

Q: Did 2021 present challenges for Gnosis by Lesaffre, particularly with supplying vitamin K2 to the global market?

Caillat: Its safe to say that everyone felt the pressure this past year, and Gnosis by Lesaffre was no different. The K2 category once had a few key suppliers, yet as K2 gained momentum as an in-demand ingredient, we saw many emerging players come to market. But this served to shine a light on the value Gnosis by Lesaffre brings to the industry. 

We are proud to belong to a group serving the nutrition and health industries for more than 160 years. That kind of longevity is an automatic source of comfort for many. 

We are a company with an uncompromising commitment to quality wher supply is concerned. For more than 15 years, we have produced our vitaMK7 vitamin K2 in our own European cGMP-certified pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing facility, which undergoes regular audits to ensure compliance. This gives us complete control over the supply chain, wher we can characterise our ingredients safety, identity, purity, composition, authenticity, and origin.  Our customers know there are no surprises with Gnosis by Lesaffre materials. 

Further, we offer complete transparency to our customers, who are welcome to audit our facilities for themselves, personally evaluating raw material production sites and processes. We are humbled at the trust they put in us, yet we encourage them to verify for themselves that that trust is well-placed. 

Q: You mention vitaMK7 is produced in your facility, but Gnosis by Lesaffre recently acquired another K2 leader, NattoPharma, taking its MenaQ7 into your portfolio. How do you manage the quality of MenaQ7?

Caillat: Our acquisition of NattoPharma and the MenaQ7 brand was well measured. This brand carries a stellar reputation built upon an unprecedented body of clinical evidence and patents, produced to the highest quality standards to an exact and unwavering specification. 

As a company, we knew NattoPharma was already incredibly like-minded with Gnosis by Lesaffres core values. At the forefront was our mutual commitment to our customers – to never forget that we are nothing without them and by providing extraordinary service ensures their (and our) success.  

Q: How can we expect this merger to impact the vitamin K2 category?

Caillat: This merger has created the most comprehensive vitamin K2 as MK-7 portfolio on the market, offering solutions for brand owners to create safe, efficacious products that will truly change the face of global health. We have solutions for any product a brand owner might conceive of, and we are eager to find the solution that best suits their needs. 

We will also continue to drive awareness and education around the importance of vitamin K2, including the groundbreaking research underway, not only within the industry but at the retail and consumer levels. The more educated the consumer, the more demand our partners will see for their quality products.  

Gnosis by Lesaffre also remains committed to corporate social responsibility. Our company has always been dedicated to nourishing and protecting the health and well-being of people while minimising our environmental footprint and actively pursuing sustainability in everything we do. 

Most importantly, brand owners have a partner in Gnosis by Lesaffre invested in their success. We believe – and indeed hope – the New Year ushers in some of the most innovative vitamin K2 products the market has ever seen.