NutriLeads’ Benicaros gains traction in ANZ with Invita distribution deal

AUSTRALIA – NutriLeads has appointed Invita as the exclusive distributor of Benicaros®, its clinically validated precision prebiotic for functional food, beverage, and dietary supplement applications, in Australia and New Zealand.

Upcycled from carrot pomace and scientifically known as RG-I (rhamnogalacturonan-I), Benicaros F&B is formulation-ready and compatible with applications across functional beverages, dairy products, bars, and powders. 

It is pH- and heat-stable, water-soluble, and has little to no impact on the existing recipe, taste, odor or texture.

Benicaros SF Pure P (containing RG-I from upcycled carrot pomace) has since received approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia, enabling its use in listed complementary medicines. 

This strategic collaboration gives manufacturers in the region access to a trusted specialty ingredient supplier and product developer, along with a science-backed solution for immune and gut health.

“We’re excited to partner with Invita to represent Benicaros in Australia and New Zealand,” said Joana Carneiro-Wakefield, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of NutriLeads. “Their strong technical and commercial expertise, coupled with a deep understanding of regional regulatory and market dynamics, makes them an excellent partner to accelerate Benicaros’ growth in these important markets.”

The Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) also recognizes its unique mechanism of action and immune benefits, allowing Benicaros to be marketed with a pre-approved function claims for food, beverages, and supplements.

“Benicaros offers a new standard in prebiotics for the Australia and New Zealand market,” said Mike Johnson, Group Managing Director, Invita NZ Limited & Australia Pty Ltd. “Its low effective dose, excellent tolerability, and robust scientific backing make it a unique and exciting ingredient for innovation in both the food and supplement sectors. We are thrilled to introduce this to our customers.”

This proprietary prebiotic fiber ingredient strengthens innate immune responses and improves gut health. It does this by supporting a more resilient gut microbiome, selectively nourishing beneficial bacteria naturally present in virtually every individual.

Benicaros® gains further traction in the consumer market

Shortly after this agreement, Benicaros® gained further traction in the consumer market through its inclusion in Taipei-based Glory Kingdom Corp.’s new daily dietary supplement, Vit-Gute®. 

Developed for both adults and children, Vit-Gute combines the clinically validated Benicaros with natural yeast-derived zinc and Japanese postbiotics in fruit-flavored, water-soluble capsules designed for convenient digestive and immune support.

“Vit-Gute combines three science-backed ingredients that work together to activate the body’s natural immune defenses and deliver lasting gut health benefits,” said Jim Kuo, Marketing Director, at Glory Kingdom. “Benicaros, yeast zinc, and postbiotics provide a triple shield of protection.”

In a 10-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with 146 healthy adults, Benicaros significantly increased levels of Bifidobacterium species, essential to a healthy gut microbiome, and enhanced immune activity, including antiviral gene expression and natural killer cell function.

This agreement with Invita marks another milestone in NutriLeads’ global expansion strategy, which now combines new-market distribution partnerships with the growing commercial adoption of Benicaros® in finished products such as Glory Kingdom’s Vit-Gute®.

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