NBJ Awards Stratum Nutritions Investment Success

ST. LOUISStratum Nutrition received Nutrition Business Journal's Business Achievement Award in the "Investment in the Future" category. The award recognizes Stratum, a Novus International Inc. business, for its investments critical to successful market expansion.

Nutrition Business Journal noted the Novus acquisition of IQF Group, a Spanish producer of natural carotenoid pigments that expands Stratum's European market presence; Novuss equity investment in ESM Technologies, makers of Natural Eggshell Membrane (NEM®) and Eggshell Calcium (ESC®), to form a joint venture; a technology partnership with KitoZyme of Belgium to advance the science, global sales and marketing of ARTINIA, a fiber-based ingredient that supports healthy arteries and overall cardiovascular health; and the company's expanding R&D efforts.  Stratum recently established a new, dedicated R&D facility designed to advance dietary supplement and food applications development near its headquarters in Missouri, as well as initiated development of R&D labs in Spain.

Stratum Nutrition was also recognized for its partnership with Vitamin Angels on a new humanitarian program "Thrive to Five" that supplies children with zinc in order to relieve severe diarrhea, as well as the expanding Novus Scholar Programs, which award scholarships to support the research and work of students and professors who are and will be industry leaders in related industries.

"We are honored to receive this esteemed recognition from Nutrition Business Journal and will continue our efforts to bring ingredient technologies with solid intellectual property and strong scientific and clinical research to market to meet the growing global need for nutrition and health," stated Jeremy Moore, global business director, Stratum Nutrition. "Our corporate vision is to help feed the world affordable, wholesome food and achieve a higher quality of life and each of Stratum Nutrition's investments supports this vision.  We also continue our commitment to protecting the environment by considering economic, environmental and social factors to ensure that our ingredients offer sustainable health solutions."

The award will be presented in an official ceremony at the 14th Annual Nutrition Business Journal Summit in Dana Point, CA, July 19 to July 22, 2011.