Industry Roundup: Funding, Facilities, Market Entries

Vitagene gets $5.5m in seed funding; CRN announces Regulatory Summit; Mannatech enters Colombia; and more news in brief.

Vitagene gets $5.5m in seed funding

Vitagene Inc. raises $5.5m in seed funding from investors Spectrum 28, Viking Global Investors and executives at Netflix and Yahoo for its subscription business that creates personalized vitamin and supplement regiments based on a patient's DNA, lifestyle and blood work. The San Francisco firm on Feb. 17 said the funding "is a significant step toward our vision of helping individuals reach peak health through data-driven, personalized products.” Vitagene creates customers' products in partnership with physicians, who receive reports through the firm's online dashboard and proprietary algorithm, utilizing patient DNA, lab results and lifestyle information. Individuals receive a membership subscription for monthly supplements tailored to their unique health profile, according to the firm.

Funding for Phenomenal's Novma

Phenomenal Foods LLC receives $3m in series A fundraising round from Evolution Media Partners and Taylor Fresh Foods. The Los Angeles firm, which markets Novma packs containing whole, organic fruit and vegetable blends in on-the-go pouches, on Feb. 18 said the financing will be used to “support and build customer relationships, scale distribution nationwide, and grow internal talent.” Two 22-year-old entrepreneurs started the business in 2015 with seed funding by the founders of Zico CoconutWater and Suja Juice.

CRN announces Regulatory Summit

The Council for Responsible Nutrition adds a conference to its operations, the Regulatory Summit on May 5, at the Hyatt Regency in Bethesda, Md. The event will feature sessions in an interactive format to help participants formulate clear direction and options for addressing current regulatory compliance matters confronting dietary supplements and functional foods, CRN said Feb. 17. The conference will feature a variety of regulatory experts as session leaders, from companies, consulting firms, quality control laboratories and law firms. FDA regulatory officials from various units of the agency will participate as presenters and observers (see more information about this conference in an online article in "The Tan Sheet").

Sports nutrition firms move in Texas

Nutritional supplement marketer Purus Labs and contract manufacturer FormulifeInc., its sister company, in April will move their operations from Dallas to 45,000 square feet of leased space in Allen, Texas. The space will accommodate the companies' growing product lines with additional equipment and production capacity. Purus Labs launched in 2008 and Formulife spun off in 2015, according to a Feb. 17 release. Purus Labs markets its namesake line of pre-workout and protein supplements.

Garden of Life expands recall

Garden of Life LLC expands its voluntary recall of its Raw Meal Organic Shake & Meal in chocolate, original, vanilla and vanilla chai flavors to include additional lots because an ingredient used in certain lots of the product has the potential to be contaminated with salmonella virchow. The West Palm Beach, Fla., firm, which announced the initial recall on Jan. 29, said on Feb. 13 that it identified the likely source of salmonella contamination to be organic moringa leaf powder from a supplier that it used only in Raw Meal. Other Garden of Life moringa-containing products use different suppliers and are not being recalled.

Hemp firm enters Illinois JV

Nutritional High International Inc., which develops, manufactures and distributes hemp- and marijuana-infused products, enters a joint venture agreement with an Illinois grower and investment group for its Illinois dispensary project. In a Feb. 16 release, the Toronto firm says that under the agreement, a group of investors will fund up to $300,000 of expenses for establishing its medical cannabis dispensary in Lawrenceville, Ill., and provide four months of working capital. The investor group will receive 50% interest in NH Medicinal Dispensaries Inc., NHI’s subsidiary which holds conditional approval for the dispensary and 50% interest in another subsidiary that holds the firm's interest in Lawrenceville property. Additionally, NHI was granted conditional approval to register its dispensary by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Mannatech enters Colombia

[Mannatech Inc.], direct seller of nutritional products including Glycoslim meal replacement drink, Sport active recovery supplement and OsoLean whey protein, expands its operations to Colombia, its 25th international market. The Coppell, Texas-based company on Feb. 16 said its entry in the country also marks its debut in South America and is a “gateway to a population of more than 600m people in Latin America and a vibrant and dynamic $1.3 trillion economy.” Mannatech already operates in Mexico and Spain.

Allegra sponsors Epic Tour

Sanofi's AllegraAllergy Relief, marketed by its Chattem Inc. US division, sponsors Epic Proportions Tour, a venue for new recording artists to build their fan base and financial support. The promotion begins in the US in the spring and will continue through the fall, EPT, of Goodyear, Ariz., said on Feb. 16. “Keeping bands and fans connected is a passion point. And keeping them focused on the music, not allergies, is our job," says Jennifer Cooper, Allegra senior brand manager at Chattem.

Press reps Genesis Today

Superfood supplements marketer Genesis Today Inc. on Feb. 12 announces Christen Press, a forward on the US Women's World Cup soccer champion, as its brand ambassador. Press, who won the Hermann Trophy as the top female collegiate soccer player in her senior year at Stanford University, will assist the Austin, Texas, firm with marketing initiatives including social media and public relations, and in developing nutritional content around their line of super-fruit juices, plant-based protein powders and greens products.