In line with its growth ambitions, Kirin is hoping to piggyback on Blackmores’ distribution presence across APAC. Its long-term plan is to scale up its Health Science Business Division from JPY$103.6bn (US$760m) in 2022 to JPY$200bn (US$1.47bn) in 2027. Last year, the firm also said it was in talks with South East Asian firms in incorporating LC-Plasma into dairy products.

To date, it has launched 45 LC-Plasma products with its business partners in the form of beverages, green juice, candies, jellies, and powder. Between January and May last year, beverages containing LC-plasma saw their sales volume went up by 40 per cent to 2.6 million boxes.

It has also teamed up with Coca-Cola and Morinaga, in launching LC-Plasma in beverages, powder, and gummy forms. Kirin has launched finished products containing LC-Plasma branded iMUSE. Back in 2021, Blackmores’ largest shareholder and son of the company’s founder, Marcus Blackmore, previously criticised the board for a perceived lack of innovation.Īs a key player in Japan’s Foods with Function Claims (FFC) sector, Kirin’s forte lies in food and beverages containing Lactococcus lactis strain Plasma, or LC-Plasma – its proprietary ingredient and also the first permitted by Japan Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) to make immune health claims. While the majority of Blackmores’ products are in the supplement format, Kirin pointed out that consumer research has shown the demand for gummies and functional drinks. The two companies had been in talks for the acquisition since last year, Kirin revealed to NutraIngredients-Asia, adding that Blackmores’ management is expected to continue to lead the firm. Last Thursday, the two firms announced their acquisition plan valued at AUD$1.88bn (US$1.24 billion). The Australian complementary medicines leader can expect to gain from Kirin’s R&D capabilities, especially in terms of dosage formats and environmentally friendly packaging. China: Probiotic supplements in e-commerceīlackmores might also co-develop products with another Japanese firm FANCL, in which Kirin also holds a stake in.Digestion and immunity probiotic supplements in e-commerce.Explained: The US e-commerce probiotic supplements market.Probiotic supplements: Global e-commerce 2018-2020, forecast for 2021.The gut-brain axis: Psychobiotic opportunity in 25 countriese.

The Space Between by Don Aker