Kerry Group announces two significant biotechnology acquisitions

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Kerry Group (Tralee, Ireland) has announced the acquisition of c-LEct (Leipzig, Germany), a leading biotechnology innovation company, and the Mexico-based enzyme manufacturer Enmex. These two significant biotechnology acquisitions will expand the company’s expertise, technology portfolio, and manufacturing capabilities.

Specializing in precision fermentation, optimized bio-processing and bio-transformation for the creation of high-value targeted enzymes and ingredients, c-LEcta has established itself as an innovator in disruptive new sciences for the pharmaceutical market, with a strong pipeline of functional bioactives across food, beverage, and consumer markets. Enmex supplies multiple bio-process solutions for food, beverage, and animal nutrition markets. Enmex has a complementary enzyme portfolio and a strong manufacturing infrastructure that will extend Kerry’s fermentation and enzyme manufacturing capabilities into Latin America.

“The food and pharmaceutical industries are on the cusp of a new wave of innovation where new developments in biotechnology, synthetic biology and precision fermentation are radically transforming these sectors. c-LEcta is a leader in these new technologies, which includes fermentation-based products such as disruptive new enzymes, and the strategically compelling combination with Kerry will accelerate our innovation capabilities in enzyme engineering, fermentation and bio-process development,” said Albert McQuaid, PhD, chief science and technology officer of Kerry, in a press release. “Our broad market reach across food and pharma markets, combined with our deep enzyme applications expertise and integrated ingredient technology design, will enable and accelerate the growth potential of c-LEcta’s strong portfolio and technology capabilities while also supporting us in the creation of tastier, more sustainable and healthier products.”

“Enzymes are increasingly playing a vital role as biocatalysts in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries, where they deliver many benefits including improved product quality, increased process efficiency, and reduced food waste, through both minimization of waste and valorization of waste streams,” said Neil Cracknell, CEO of Kerry Applied Health and Nutrition. “This strategic acquisition of Enmex will complement Kerry’s existing enzyme portfolio and build on our strength in enzymes for modifying cereals and grains. We see enzymes playing a critical role in helping achieve Kerry’s vision to create a world of sustainable nutrition, which is about providing better nutrition, with better processes, which have less impact on our earth’s resources.”