Comax Flavors, Melville, N.Y., released Greetings From The Tropics Collection in six flavors: Coconut, Guava, Mango, Papaya, Passionfruit and Pineapple. These tropical flavors are made to be natural, water-soluble, liquid, non-GMO and allergen free. This tropical flavor range can be used in a variety of applications including non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, baked goods and confections, savory sauces, and entrees as well as dairy and plant-based products, the company says. “Comax is thrilled to offer our customers this refreshing and exotic fruit collection,” said Catherine Armstrong, vice president of corporate communications for Comax Flavors, in a statement.

Winnipeg, Manitoba-based Merit Functional Foods announced a new partnership with international agribusiness and food company Bunge Ltd., which has made a $30 million (CAD) capital investment in Merit to give the global ingredient supplier a minority interest in the Canadian-based company. The partnership will expedite the construction of Merit’s state-of-the-art plant-based protein production facility in Manitoba, where it will produce novel pea and canola protein ingredients. The plant is on-track to be fully operations by December, it says.

Nielsen-Massey Vanillas, Waukegan, Ill., announced that Jonathan Thompson has joined the vanilla extracts and natural food flavors company as its chief executive officer. Most recently, Thompson was general manager for the Isopure Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Glanbia Performance Nutrition. “The Board of Directors is extremely pleased that Jonathan will be leading Nielsen-Massey forward in the next chapter of growth,” said Lynn Clarke, chairman of the Nielsen-Massey Board, in a statement. “His deep food industry experience and proven track record in driving profitable growth will be essential skills as we move this world-class brand and unique company to the next level.”

The Martin Bauer Group, Secaucus, N.J., acquired Core Botanica, a manufacturer of customized mint leaf products in North America. The acquisition expands the group’s portfolio of raw materials and botanical ingredients, servicing the food and dietary supplement industries, along with the tea and beverage markets, it says. The acquired company will continue to operate as Core Botanica. “The addition of Core to our family of companies known as the nature network is all about entering the American raw botanicals space, and doing so for the benefit of our U.S. and international clients. It is a continuation of the Group’s long-term service and partnering strategy,” said Ennio Ranaboldo, chief executive officer of the Martin Bauer Group in North America, in a statement. “That invaluable knowledge and best practices are now solidly part of, and smoothly integrated within, our business model and operations in the U.S.”

New scientific research, published in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, highlights the benefits of Bioiberica’s native (undenatured) type II collagen (b-2Cool) in combination with other key ingredients for joint health: chondroitin sulphate, glucosamine hydrochloride and hyaluronic acid (Bioiberica’s Mobilee). For dietary supplement manufacturers seeking easy-to-formulate solutions, the research highlights b-2Cool as an efficacious ingredient for use in holistic mobility products, the company says. “This study is a key development in Bioiberica’s joint health research. It complements previous research by providing additional validation for the benefits of using native type II collagen in innovative mobility solutions and allows Bioiberica to further position b-2Cool as a trusted ingredient for effective joint health formulations,” said Jaume Reguant, director of healthcare at Bioiberica, in a statement.

Immunity is the focus of the latest chapter of Wixon Innovates — a product development trend-spotting project. Americans were already beginning to explore products with immune-enhancing benefits prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but earlier this year as the pandemic took hold, this trend accelerated. In fact, Google searches for the combined terms, ‘food’ and ‘immune system’ skyrocketed by 670 percent between February and March 2020, according to Google Trends data. “We’ve seen awareness of the connection between health and diet gain momentum as the virus continues to impact communities around the globe,” said Becca Henrickson, marketing manager for Wixon, St. Francis, Wis. “The result of this is people are putting a greater focus on products that can help them support a healthy immune system.” Evidence of this trend is seen in a recent Innova Consumer Survey where 45 percent of global consumers say they’re consuming more food and beverage products that boost their immune system in the wake of COVID-19. “As demand ramps up for immune-enhancing products, food and beverage manufacturers have an opportunity to innovate with immune-supporting ingredients and flavors,” Henrickson added.