Nizo and Gilde Healthcare join forces

Nizo food research, a contract research organisation for companies active in food and healthcare markets, has announced that Gilde Healthcare has joined as a shareholder.

Jasper van Gorp, managing partner at Gilde Healthcare, says, “Research in health and food are converging, with the pharmaceutical industry looking at effects of food components and the food sector becoming more aware of the health effects of their products. Examples of this convergence include functional foods, probiotics, nutraceuticals and clinical nutrition. At the same time very few companies globally have the right expertise to make the connection between food and health. Nizo is a growth center for innovative R&D services and new product and process innovations in this field”.

In collaboration with Nizo’s management team, Gilde Healthcare aims to focus on accelerating its autonomous growth and adding complementary activities.

Ad Juriaanse, CEO of Nizo says, “The current strategy to grow internationally in contract research is supplemented with new, innovative business models. For example, Nizo has recently developed in-house product innovations such as fibers based on plant proteins and fat-free ice cream. It also is one of the few companies worldwide that operates a state-of-the-art pilot plant to actually produce these innovations. We see this transaction as recognition of our company’s strong market position and the expertise of our staff,” he explains.