BASF appoints Connell Brothers in Australia and New Zealand

MELBOURNE – BASF has appointed Connell Brothers Australasia to serve human nutrition and pharmaceutical excipient customers in Australia and New Zealand. Following BASF?s successful acquisition of Cognis in December 2010, the product and services portfolio has further expanded, especially in the human nutrition industry, creating opportunities to find better ways to meet customer needs. 
This new distribution agreement covers the market segments food, beverages, as well as pharmacopoeia-certified excipients for dietary supplements. Currently, Connell Brothers has similar distribution agreements with BASF in Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore. 
Effective April 1, Connell Brothers will be part of BASF?s distribution network in Australia and New Zealand. "We selected Connell Brothers based on their industry expertise, sales excellence and proven track record with other BASF units,” said Simon Lord, business manager, Human Nutrition, BASF Australia and New Zealand. "Partnering with Connell Brothers will allow BASF to provide existing and new customers with outstanding service while improving our geographic reach.” 
Carol Toft, business manager of Connell Brothers Australia, commented, “BASF?s extensive portfolio combined with our products and services makes this a synergy sure to benefit food, beverage, supplement and pharmaceutical customers throughout Australia and New Zealand.” 
Ms Toft explained that they will also assist customers in the formulation and development of finished food and beverages to address market challenges and new market trends. Connell Brothers has begun installation of an applications kitchen based in Sydney to provide comprehensive technical and commercial support, and accelerate business development and responsiveness to customer demands. 
BASF's Nutrition & Health division provides the Pharmaceutical industry with active ingredients such as caffeine and ibuprofen, as well as excipients and customised synthesis services; Aroma Chemicals such as citral and geraniol for the Flavour and Fragrance industry; and the Food Industry with vitamins and carotenoids, plant sterols, emulsifiers and omega-3 fatty acids. Its feed additives such as vitamins, carotenoids and enzymes make Nutrition & Health a worldwide leader for the Animal Nutrition market.