Gelita on Collagen Protein for Healthy Indulgence and the GLP-1 Era

In this video interview from SupplySide Global, Angie Rimel, marketing communications manager at Gelita, explains how Gelita’s collagen proteins can help brands create nutrient-dense products that still deliver on taste, mouthfeel and stability, a combination she says drives repeat purchases.

She discusses this year’s new launches, including a specialized gelatin for chewable soft gels and a bioactive collagen peptide for skin barrier health, and why collagen peptides are expanding beyond beauty into healthy aging and sports nutrition. Rimel also shares where the most momentum is building, with sports and active nutrition drawing particular attention, introduces Gelita’s newly launched Life Science Institute, and offers a sneak peek at an upcoming bioactive collagen peptide for cognitive support, with some research already done.

Transcript

Erin McEvoy: What is Gelita bringing to SupplySide Global this year, and what’s new?

Angie Rimel: Gelita has been innovating with collagen proteins for over 150 years. We have here rethinking protein for nutrient-dense, rich foods. So, think about healthy indulgence and protein-powered GLP-1 aligned. All right, so consumers are demanding more nutrient-rich, smaller meals. All right, so what you want as a brand is to develop something that tastes good, that’s a healthy indulgence. Because that’s where you get repeat purchase. Consumers might look at the value or the ingredient or what it can offer to support them nutritionally, but the repeat purchase will come from that excellent mouthfeel and taste and stability.

So Gelita is offering collagen proteins for that. We have OptiBar for bars, Verisol HST for beauty gummies, and Soluform for protein gummies. All right. This year, we also launched a new product, Rapisol. This is a specialized gelatin for chewable soft gels. Consumers are increasingly liking different experiences when they take their vitamin or fish oil. And there are also children. They don’t want to swallow a pill. Or older people. This offers them the opportunity to chew. Gelita has tailored pharma-grade gelatins for delivery formats. That’s another area of our expertise.

Also new this year is a bioactive collagen peptide. Let’s talk about bioactive collagen peptides for a minute. Brands have the opportunity to differentiate their formulation and accelerate their opportunity. Gelita can support that with our unique portfolio of bioactive collagen peptides. This year, Gelita launched a new bioactive collagen peptide, Curaderm. Curaderm is a biological collagen peptide that is for outer body barrier health and repair. So what it does: wound healing, atopic-prone skin, and gum health. A very unique bioactive collagen peptide. A unique market niche. Gelita’s portfolio of bioactive collagen peptides is diverse to support beauty from within. We can support healthy aging or sports performance.

Erin McEvoy: Gelita’s portfolio spans Verisol, Fortigel, Tendoforte, PeptENDURE, Fortibone, and others. Which of these are getting the most attention from brands right now, and why?

Angie Rimel: Well, Verisol, our beauty from within, is our flagship brand, but consumers are understanding, their understanding is growing, that collagen peptides are not just for beauty; that they expand into other areas of your life. So it might be healthy aging, or it might be sports nutrition, active nutrition. So we’re seeing a growth of interest in all of those areas, those categories.

Erin McEvoy: Where is the most momentum right now, whether healthy aging, sports and recovery, or something else?

Angie Rimel: Well, I think sports nutrition, active nutrition, is especially grabbing attention as people want to stay mobile and active, and they’re looking for ways to recover faster. I think that’s very important to people.

Erin McEvoy: Is there anything coming soon, such as new studies or launches, that you can share?

Angie Rimel: Well, let me tell you this. First of all, last year we launched the Gelita Pharma Institute, a group of experts who can support our pharma customers. This year we have launched the Gelita Life Science Institute. Here we support health and nutrition, and this is really exciting. Gelita is a powerhouse of knowledge. We have technical expertise all around the world. So when you’re formulating or brands have ideas and you need support, Gelita has a group of experts, right there, 24/7 around the globe.

I can also tell you that we’re very excited. There’s a new bioactive collagen peptide coming up that will support cognitive. We’ve already done some research, and we’re very excited about it. That’s all I can tell you. A little sneak peek.