Gumlink Partners for Functional Gum

VEJLE, DenmarkGum manufacturer Gumlink has purchased a 50-percent stake in Tab Labs Inc., an experienced nutraceutical gum maker, to forge a joint venture on future development of patented nutraceutical chewing gum. Gumlink said it will contribute its gum manufacturing capabilities and its research and development knowledge and facilities; Tab Labs brings a heritage as a forerunner in compressed chewing gum manufacturing and the developer of the first oral probiotic chewing gum. Tab Labs has recently focused its efforts on upgrading its facilities to accommodate extremely sensitive active ingredients, such as probiotics.

The companies noted the probiotic market is attractive due to its size ($15.9 billion globally in 2008) and outlook: sales are expected to near $30 billion in 2015, according to Global Industry Analysts (GIA). In support of this direction, Tab Labs has signed renowned expert in the field of probiotics and microbiology Dr. Chris Chilcott to its management team, responsible for leading the companys newly created Nutraceutical Innovation Center. His experience includes leading the development of patented, oral probiotic strains Blis K-12 and Blis M-18 at BLIS Technologies in New Zealand.

This move makes perfect sense for us, as it will provide us with a nutraceutical manufacturing and distribution platform in North America and provide access to novel technologies that when combined with our own proprietary gum technologies will enable us to offer the most potent nutraceutical chewing gum assortment, said Soren Birn, CEO of Gumlink A/S. Furthermore, Gumlink is now following our strategic pathway to maintain and further build our position as the worlds leading nutraceutical gum developer and manufacturer.

CEO of Tab Labs Inc. Tom Holtgen said Gumlink brings scale, infrastructure and resources that will allow Tab Labs to take all aspects of its business to the highest levels.  Our common vision and synergies are very complementary, and will result in many new exciting innovations and discoveries, he said. Tab Labs is now positioned to taking ownership as North Americas leading  nutraceutical chewing gum innovator and contract manufacturer.