Kerry Group Acquires LactoSens Biosensor Technology to Strengthen Lactose-Free Solutions
Source: DairyNews.today
Kerry Group has acquired DirectSens’ LactoSens technology, an advanced biosensor for fast, accurate, and cost-effective lactose detection tailored for the dairy industry. This acquisition enables Kerry to enhance its lactase enzyme portfolio, providing food manufacturers with a more integrated solution that combines Kerry’s ingredient expertise with precise lactose measurement capabilities.
Widely adopted across food and beverage manufacturing, LactoSens supports regulatory compliance and process efficiency with its real-time lactose analysis. In Kerry’s recent Q3 2024 earnings report, the company noted that while modest in scale, this acquisition expands Kerry’s capabilities in delivering comprehensive solutions for lactose-free dairy products.
Key Benefits of LactoSens:
Accelerated Product Release: Speeds up product availability, allowing manufacturers to confirm lactose levels immediately through in-house testing.
Traceability: Provides documented proof for low-lactose and lactose-free claims for every batch.
User-Friendly: Requires minimal training for operational use.
Specificity: Delivers precise lactose detection unaffected by other sugars or food ingredients like coffee, chocolate, or fruit.
Reliability: Validated against the HPLC reference standard, ensuring high accuracy.
Ronan Moloney, VP of Enzymes at Kerry Group, expressed excitement over the acquisition: “Integrating LactoSens into our portfolio enhances our lactose-free solutions, adding unique value to our food and beverage offerings.” Christoph Sygmund, CEO of DirectSens, added, “This agreement affirms the quality of our biosensor technology, and we look forward to continuing our commitment to delivering precise biosensor solutions for the global market.”
Under the terms of the deal, DirectSens will remain the contract manufacturer for LactoSens and will continue developing innovations like OatSens, LactaZyme, and XPressGT, along with new partnerships. Roman Kittl, COO of DirectSens, praised the support from investors: “Our journey reflects the strength of Austria’s innovation ecosystem, with collaboration and investment paying off in ways that highlight our commitment to breakthrough technology.”
Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.
Key Benefits of LactoSens:
Accelerated Product Release: Speeds up product availability, allowing manufacturers to confirm lactose levels immediately through in-house testing.
Traceability: Provides documented proof for low-lactose and lactose-free claims for every batch.
User-Friendly: Requires minimal training for operational use.
Specificity: Delivers precise lactose detection unaffected by other sugars or food ingredients like coffee, chocolate, or fruit.
Reliability: Validated against the HPLC reference standard, ensuring high accuracy.
Ronan Moloney, VP of Enzymes at Kerry Group, expressed excitement over the acquisition: “Integrating LactoSens into our portfolio enhances our lactose-free solutions, adding unique value to our food and beverage offerings.” Christoph Sygmund, CEO of DirectSens, added, “This agreement affirms the quality of our biosensor technology, and we look forward to continuing our commitment to delivering precise biosensor solutions for the global market.”
Under the terms of the deal, DirectSens will remain the contract manufacturer for LactoSens and will continue developing innovations like OatSens, LactaZyme, and XPressGT, along with new partnerships. Roman Kittl, COO of DirectSens, praised the support from investors: “Our journey reflects the strength of Austria’s innovation ecosystem, with collaboration and investment paying off in ways that highlight our commitment to breakthrough technology.”
Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.
