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Bio Commerce Centre supports new business with a longer shelf life

The Bio Commerce Centre and Massey University have both played important roles in supporting the launch and ongoing success of innovative beverage technology company Xenos.

Traditionally, long life dairy products have been packaged into tetra-cartons using special technology which has to be imported from overseas.

With support from the Bio Commerce Centre (BCC), Palmerston North company Xenos has developed technology which allows long life products to be packaged into bottles locally rather than in cartons.

Consumers generally prefer their beverages to come in bottles rather than in cartons. However, if long shelf life products are to be supplied, cartons have been the only real option for most manufacturers to date. Xenos' technology now makes aseptic filling of bottles (plastic or glass) an accessable option for these companies.

To prove its technology, Xenos has constructed its own manufacturing facilities. Through this facility Xenos has now packed nearly two million bottles of upmarket long life beverage products in the last eight months. These products are sold nationwide under well known consumer brands.

This technology also presents significant opportunity in countries which don't have the same level of refrigeration infrastructure as New Zealand. For example, Xenos has recently signed a contract to supply machines to Brazilian company Leite Verde.

Mike Rockell spotted the gap in the market while he was working as a Massey University food technology lecturer. Xenos was developed for two years within the BCC's incubation scheme.

'The BCC's help was invaluable at the early stage of our business in terms of mentoring, support and investment,' Mr Rockell said. 'Their contacts and credibility in the industry made the transition to market a lot easier.'

Xenos also capitalised on the proximity of Massey University, and sponsored a Masters student to research and evaluate their sterilisation technology. Specifically, the student conducted challenge tests to ensure optimum conditions were being achieved.

'This presented a really cost-effective way of ensuring our technology worked, and at the same time supported a student with their ongoing education in our industry,' Mr Rockell said.