Barentz, a Dutch company that offers ingredients to the food and nutrition companies, has established a joint venture (JV) with Vita, which is part of the VIV Groups business unit Life Science, a Thailand-based company that is active in food ingredients distribution.

With this new JV, Barentz intends to strengthen its footprint within the Food Ingredients segment in Southeast Asia.

The ingredient provider would use Vitas knowledge and customer network in Thai market, and on the other hand Vita will enhance its product portfolio with Barentz product range and production facilities in the region.

"Health products are growing immensely in popularity and the joint venture can offer the industry an almost complete range of ingredients in this key segment."

Barentz International CEO Hidde van der Wal said: "I am very pleased to see Barentz join forces with Vita.

“Vitas focus on health and nutrition is especially interesting.

"Health products are growing immensely in popularity and the joint venture can offer the industry an almost complete range of ingredients in this key segment.

“Furthermore, through our own state-of-the-art production facilities Vitablend in Singapore, we will be able to offer the region health and nutritional premixes and functional blends that meet the high-quality demands in this sensitive product segment."

For more than 50 years, the VIV group has been in the ingredient business.

VIV Group chairman Suchart Chivapornthip said: "Thailands food segment has immense growth opportunities and we want to be part of this growth.

"I have high-hopes for the new joint venture with Barentz which will accelerate our growth.

"Together we can serve the industry with a more complete portfolio.

“With the technology and know-how of Barentzs combined with Vitas experience and customer relationship in the market, we will become a significant provider for food ingredients and food solutions."

Vita will now focus on expanding within the food segment.