As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, we are reflecting on the journey that has transformed both our company and the wider prebiotic industry. The Clasado Biosciences success story is built on three central pillars that have guided the business since its inception: a vision for the future, scientific excellence, market adaptability, and operational excellence and quality assurance.
To commemorate this milestone, we’ve invited members of our leadership team to share their insights and perspectives on Clasado’s evolution, personal and professional highlights, and the changing landscape of gut health.
The importance of a connected and dedicated team
While our leadership team offers insight into Clasado’s journey, our success over the past two decades has been built on the collective dedication, expertise, and innovative thinking of every team member.
From research and development to operations, sales teams, quality control, customer service and beyond, each individual has played an integral role in advancing our mission of improving lives through better gut health.
The strength of Clasado lies not just in its scientific achievements or commercial success, but in the collaborative spirit and shared commitment to excellence that runs through every department and role within the business. Our 20th anniversary is not just a celebration of that success, it’s also a thank you to the individuals that have helped our business reach this landmark.
A vision for the future
Per Rehné, CEO of Clasado, offers a bird’s-eye view of the company’s journey, its commercial expansion, and lays out the path for the future. His leadership has been instrumental in steering Clasado’s growth and innovation.
“When we look at the prebiotic ingredients on the market, those that are established and those newer to the scene, what we have achieved at Clasado is impressive. The level of science behind our products, our agility as a company, and our ability to establish valuable partnerships has continually powered us forwards,” Per states. “Now more than ever, we’ve seen a remarkable growth in consumer interest in gut health and knowledge about preventative health, a trend that accelerated during and after the pandemic. That’s why it’s so important to us that we’re not just developing a prebiotic that formulators can access and use with ease, but we’re also supporting learning and education at every possible opportunity.
I’m incredibly proud of the team we’ve built at Clasado and the company culture we’ve fostered. A particularly memorable moment was my first team event at Clasado in 2019, where we established the values that would shape our company culture – values that continue to guide us today. Another rewarding moment has been where our strategy really started to show its impact. We found that ‘sweet spot’ where we were on the upward trajectory, reaching commercial growth targets and developing global regulatory approvals effectively and efficiently. For Clasado as it stands today, on its 20th anniversary year, the sky really is the limit.
Looking ahead, I’m excited for us to delve further into the microbiome in terms of data and understanding. There’s still so much we’ve yet to uncover, and that should excite all of us in the health and wellness space. This understanding will help us develop and apply more targeted preventative solutions for improving human health. As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, the vision for Clasado includes continually developing our scientific capabilities, accelerating our growth, expanding our global commercial footprint, and nurturing the culture we’ve built.
“The gut health revolution is just beginning, and Clasado is poised to lead the way in the next years and beyond.”
The science behind our success
Dr. Lucien Harthoorn, R&D Director at Clasado, has been at the forefront of our research endeavours. With a keen eye for scientific innovation and a deep understanding of the gut microbiome, particularly its intersection with immune health, Dr. Harthoorn has played a crucial role in establishing Clasado as a leader in prebiotic research.
“Factors that truly set Clasado apart in the prebiotic and gut health industry are our unwavering commitment to scientific rigour and the uniqueness of our prebiotic solutions,” Dr Harthoorn reflects. “Over the past two decades, we’ve witnessed a major shift in our collective understanding of the gut microbiome’s role in overall health. It’s not just about gut health anymore; we’re seeing clear associations between gut microbiome dysbiosis and various ubiquitous health challenges.
One of our proudest achievements has been expanding Clasado’s scientific, operational, and business activities into diverse areas – from prebiotic research to food supplements, functional foods, and even medical nutrition. Reaching the milestone of over 120 scientific publications on our Bimuno® GOS prebiotic is a testament to our dedication to evidence-based innovation, and we will continue to push that portfolio of research ever further.
Looking ahead, I’m particularly excited about the potential of prebiotics in new biotics-based combinations, including probiotics and postbiotics. As we celebrate 20 years, I look forward to seeing Clasado become an even more prominent and indispensable player in the biotics market, continuing our mission based on our strong legacy of science and disruptive innovations.”
Adapting to a changing market
Dr. Frederic Narbel, VP of Sales, brings perspective on how Clasado has navigated the evolving health and nutrition sector, expanding the global reach of Bimuno GOS through a global network of trusted distributors. His insights highlight the company’s agility in meeting changing consumer demands and regulatory landscapes.
“In my time at Clasado, I’ve observed a significant shift in how customers approach functional ingredients,” Dr. Narbel explains. “There’s a growing sophistication in the market – customers are far more aware of the science behind the health and nutrition products sitting on the shelf and are demanding more detailed information to inform their decisions. This is where our extensive research on Bimuno GOS gives us a distinct advantage.
One of our key accomplishments has been setting up a global structure that allows us to service our customers, and their consumers, while accounting for local sensitivities and regulatory needs. It’s a delicate balance, capturing the value proposition of our products while adhering strictly to the science – a fine art that our marketing specialists have mastered. It’s here that we can highlight the strength of our team – Clasado is home to innovative thinkers and highly talented individuals, helping us to deliver on our mission to support public health through good gut health science.
As we look to the future, I’m particularly excited about expanding into new product applications and formats through the formulation of Bimuno GOS with other active ingredients. For example, we’re seeing rising demand for synbiotic products, as well as prebiotic ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages. In the next 5 to 10 years, I look forward to seeing Clasado successfully expand further into new markets, forge even stronger partnerships with global companies, and further demonstrate our commitment to helping customers live healthier lives. The prebiotic industry is evolving rapidly, and Clasado is well-positioned to lead that change.”
Operational excellence and Quality Assurance
Kelly Litherland, Operations Director, joined Clasado in 2013 & brings to her leadership invaluable knowledge of quality, food safety, supplier assurance, process development, supply chain and manufacturing processes.
Kelly says. “Among the many achievements of our team, I’m particularly proud of the development, implementation and launch of our 80% Bimuno GOS powder – an innovative first-to-market project that showcases the power of internal and external collaboration at Clasado. Since the beginning, achievement has been in the ‘DNA’ of the business, and as we look back on two decades of excellence, it’s exciting to think what market developments could be around the corner in the fast-paced ‘biotics’ category.
I’m excited about working collectively to expand our global operations, open new markets, drive ongoing improvements, and enhance our customer applications support, all while maintaining our commitment to delivering high-quality products and service. The potential for growth in the prebiotics category is enormous, and our research, development and fulfilment strategy put us at the forefront of supply.”
As we reflect on two decades of science and innovation and look forward to the future, Clasado remains committed to advancing gut health science, developing prebiotic solutions, and improving lives around the globe.
