New Zealand-based natural healthcare company Comvita has launched the latest product in their ever-popular anti-oxidant range, Bilberry 7500.

Bilberries have long been revered for their natural support of eye health and wider health benefits, and have been used in Europe for centuries. From March 1, New Zealanders will have the opportunity to see the benefits of this age-old herbal ingredient for themselves.

The new bilberry product from Comvita contains the active compounds in bilberries known as anthocyanosides. These are a group of blue and purple pigments found to help support night vision and be of benefit with other eye problems.

Dr Caroline Davy, education manager for Comvita, says bilberries can be especially beneficial for New Zealand’s ageing population or for those who rely heavily on the visual process for their careers.

“Optimal eye health is largely dependent on a rich supply of nutrients from the blood. Bilberry extracts maintain eye health by supporting the delivery of blood to the eye, so those who rely on their eyes for extended periods like students, computer terminal operators, night drivers and airline pilots, are likely to find bilberries especially beneficial.”

Practitioners have also used bilberries as a supplementary product for maintaining overall eye health.

Comvita is supporting the launch of this new product with an integrated PR and marketing programme to inform consumers, both here and overseas, about the benefits of bilberry.

Comvita Bilberry 7500 (RRP$39.95) contains 60 vegetable capsules per pack and will be available through pharmacies and health stores.

Other products in the Anti-Oxidant range include Comvita Propolis & Blackcurrant tablets, Selenium ACE and Selenium tablets.
 
TAPS approval: NA1879

 

December 1, 2006

Winning its category at the New Zealand Exporter of the Year Award ceremony has been the perfect end to a very successful year for Comvita.

This year, at the 40th Annual New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Awards, Comvita won the Agritech, Life Sciences and Biotechnology category.

Nineteen companies from throughout New Zealand were in the hunt for the six category awards and overall top export prize – they included companies such as 42 Below, Healtheries, Skellerup Industries, Phil and Ted’s, Provenco, Pacific Forest Products and Opus International Consultants.

The awards are the most prestigious recognition that can be given to a New Zealand exporter. Earlier this year Comvita won the People’s Choice and the TrailBlazer Awards at the national Westpac SBN Sustainable Business Awards.

Comvita’s General Manager of Sales and Marketing Scott Coulter says it is an honour to receive the award given the illustrious company they were in as finalists.

“New Zealand exporters are getting smarter about how they are attacking world markets. You can see that in the work and strategies of this group of finalists.”

He says it has been a big year for Comvita with sixty-five percent of sales now generated offshore. He expects a growing proportion of planned future growth will be derived through exporting.

Established in the Bay of Plenty in 1975, Comvita has undergone major changes in the past three years as it follows an ambitious strategy to move from being a trader to an international marketer, taking control over how and where its products are sold, positioned and priced, rather than working through distributors.

“Our strategy is driven by a desire to get closer to our customers so that we understand what they want,” says Coulter. “We’ve now taken control in most of our key export markets and have proven we can grow the market more quickly than a distributor.”

He says the company is experiencing accelerated growth in all of its offshore markets due in part to the increased knowledge they have from being inmarket.

Comvita’s Manuka honey and natural health and wellness products are targeted at the premium end of the market and are designed to meet the diverse requirements of both the Asian and Western health segments.

During recent years, Comvita started broadening its product range, reducing its reliance on traditional bee products and developing other innovative New Zealand-sourced natural health and wellbeing products, such as colostrum, Echinacea, kiwifruit and olive leaf.

Coulter says it is an important signal that the category they entered this year was Biotechnology as opposed to its previous category win in Food and Beverage.

“We will get the commercial edge in the future through technology, innovation and intellectual property leveraged by our brand strength,” he says.

He points to Comvita’s push into the woundcare market. He says the benefits of many years of research and product development will lead to woundcare products being a key export driver for the company from 2007 on.

A 25 percent jump in exports meant for the first time Comvita’s international sales exceeded New Zealand sales. Key export markets are Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, China and the UK.

China is the fastest growing market which increased by 173 percent last year, but export growth occurred across all Comvita’s export markets in virtually all product categories.

To ensure its capability keeps pace with expansion, Comvita has invested heavily in its supply chain and is developing a new two and a half million dollar warehouse in Te Puke.

“Our strategy is very much about investing and growing our regional hubs which provide a stepping stone into surrounding markets. For example our UK hub is our base for entry into the EU,” explains Mr Coulter.

A publicly listed company, Comvita has 120 staff in New Zealand and offshore and has recruited strongly over the last 12 months to support its growth plans.

The company moved from the secondary board to the main board of the New Zealand Stock Exchange in October this year.

Coulter says Comvita is growing very much in line with its strategy.

“That’s quite often the hardest thing for companies to do. There’s an enormous amount of opportunity available to companies like ours and it’s simply not possible to follow all options. By having a tight strategic framework we have a guide for what we should and shouldn’t spend our time on. Otherwise, one could waste an enormous amount of resource and energy.”

Comvita Chief Executive Brett Hewlett who is involved in a board meeting with Derma Sciences, the company’s medical partner in the US, says Comvita is pleased and humbled by the award.

“There is an increasing understanding by consumers and medical practitioners around the world about UMF Manuka honey’s antibacterial properties that give it the ability to support the immune system, digestive health and natural wound healing.”

Comvita Echinuka™ is a new liquid product combining the special antibacterial properties of UMF® Manuka Honey with Echinacea, traditionally taken for its immune qualities.

Although the chances of getting sick in summer are much less than in winter, there are some special factors that may increase this risk.

In the run-up to the summer holidays we are all enjoying Christmas parties and get-togethers which inevitably mean late nights, less sleep and a higher alcohol consumption – all of which can compromise our immune system.

At the same time we are trying to cope with the added stresses of completing work tasks before taking our well-earned break, Christmas shopping, organising Christmas day and planning the family holiday. And stress can also contribute to immunity breakdown.

All of these factors combined make December a key month to take special care of our immune systems.

Holidays, stress and travel are typical times when the risk of an ailment might peak. Many psychologists classify holidays as a major source of stress which can also lower your resistance to infection by depressing the immune system. Air conditioning can cause the protective lining of your nose to dry up and also raise the chances of becoming infected.

The qualities of Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) are ideal for daily immune support or, at a higher dosage in times of compromised immunity. It has been traditionally used to support the upper respiratory tract and help maintain clear airways.

Designed with the family in mind, Comvita Echinuka™ High Strength Liquid can easily be added to a favourite drink or used to boost smoothies.

Comvita sources only the finest ingredients to ensure the most effective formulations possible. Echinuka™ contains UMF® Active Manuka honey which has special antibacterial properties not found in other honeys, making it one of the most sought-after honeys in the world.

The Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) is selected from the most active part of the plant, and then carefully air dried to concentrate the actives. The dried Echinacea then undergoes a 30 day, 12 part, cold percolation extraction that ensures maximum actives are available.

Adding the concentrated extracts to a pure and naturally sweet vegetable glycerine base ensures a high quality liquid extract product which is free from artificial preservatives, sweeteners, colourings or flavours.

Comvita Echinuka™ is the first in the High Strength Liquid Extract product range. Available now in 100ml and 50ml sizes from all leading natural health stores.

Always read the label and use as directed. If symptoms persist see your healthcare professional.