He is on a plane in less than 2 hours for Canada to oversee the first run of bottling for the water.

140 - 12 packs to be shipped to England for a double blind test against regular water with people that have colds.

UK firm Allimax, which has developed a patented form of the garlic antioxidant compound allicin, will use ongoing research to help it move out of the crowded garlic supplements segment into a new, higher value 'anti-microbials' category.

The company, which has been producing a stabilised, concentrated allicin extract for four years, is already the number one garlic supplement brand in Norway and Denmark. But in more competitive markets like the US and UK, it is hoping to leverage its science to market the proprietary ingredient for its strong anti-microbial activity, a term that includes anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal action.
Garlic has a long history of medicinal use around the world for a wide variety of conditions, leading to its reputation as a 'cure-all'. Recently, science has begun to confirm some of its long-standing medicinal uses, with some studies showing it can lower blood cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar.

But like all plants, garlic varies greatly from crop to crop in its make-up and the amount of active allicin in regular garlic supplements varies greatly, with much destroyed through the distillation process or by stomach acid and heat.

The Allimax concentrated allicin powder, Allisure, offers the same amount of allicin as 40 whole garlic bulbs. "A regular garlic pill has a minute amount of allicin compared to one of our pills," explained James Walton, president of the company's US division Allimax U.S. Nutraceuticals. "Nobody can consume this amount."

The ingredient is also significantly more expensive at $750 per kg, compared to around $2 per kg of regular garlic extract. This makes new research showing the anti-bacterial and anti-viral actions of the product key to marketing it in a separate category from the regular garlic supplements.

Garlic supplements are worth more than $100 million in the US and are also one of the biggest sellers in the UK market. But there is some evidence that they are losing share to more 'condition-specific' supplements, said Walton.

“Garlic supplements are like vitamin C, you take them everyday. They retail from $5 upwards whereas our product costs $25.99. We don’t want to be in the garlic aisle and are trying to invent a new category called anti-microbials,” he explained.

Norman Bennett, managing director of Allimax, noted that the company was the first to demonstrate allicin’s action against colds and flu. In a placebo-controlled trial on 144 volunteers those taking the garlic extract were nearly three times less likely to experience colds.

“There is no other study showing this effect apart from ours,” he told us.

The ingredient has also been shown to fight hayfever symptoms. But of all the recent trials, the one generating most media coverage has been that reported at the end of last year, which found that the product not only killed established varieties of the hospital superbug MRSA (Methacillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus), but also destroys the new generation of 'super-superbugs' that have evolved resistance to antibiotics widely considered to be the last line of defence against MRSA.

The trial continues to generate enquiries and orders, Bennett told NutraIngredients.com.

"We are now selling MRSA care packages containing the capsules, cream and a spray," he said.

The UK firm continues to focus on clinical trials, including a new trial in a British hospital, with the aim of eventually competing with antibiotics companies. Meanwhile its US division is seeking to carve out a stronger position in the nutraceuticals market.

It has just done a deal with US functional drinks company V-Net Beverage, which will launch a beverage containing the Allisure ingredient in the fourth quarter. It is thought to be the first time a garlic extract has been added to a functional food and could trigger a range of new products in the US and Europe.

It is also working on new prototype products including an ‘Allichew’ and an effervescent tablet to expand its sales globally.

“We want our product positioned against oil of oregano, which is very strong in the US for this application [anti-microbial action],” he added. There is little other competition in this category from a natural supplement, especially in Europe.

Sales growth of 30 per cent annually to now is likely to grow further based on the MRSA trial, noted Walton, which demonstrated the anti-bacterial strength of the ingredient, and reinforces the product's 'anti-microbial' action.

"We are especially delighted by the phenomenal acceptance of our new Allimax(R) Nutraceutical Water(TM) by retailers attending SOHO Expo 2004," said Robert Corr, President of V-Net. "In the near future, V-Net will announce additional allicin-based, anti-microbial specialty products. We believe there are numerous untapped ways AlliSURE(R) can be beneficially used."

By: bilderberger
17 Dec 2004, 01:35 PM EST
Msg. 6009 of 6017
(This msg. is a reply to 6008 by checkmate28.)

FLASH! I just telephoned a man with an interest in promoting oil of oregano. I knew he had planned to attend the recent SOHO Expo, so I called him to get the lowdown. He told me that, to his chagrin, the Allimax Water was the all the buzz at SOHO. He told me everybody was walking around the floor drinking water from a blue bottle!!! hahaha He himself tasted it and liked it.

Oregano oil is used as a nutraceutical with anti-microbial properties. While in Europe, allicin is the natural anti-microbial of choice, much more oregano oil (with its powerful odor and taste!) is sold in North America than garlic/allicin for nutraceutical purposes.

I met the man in question at his booth at a major natural foods show not long ago and we exchanged cards. He was of course aware of garlic/allicin preparations, but had not yet heard of Allimax. I advised him then of its virtues, and he seemed quite impressed, albeit in a nervous, fidgety way.

"Positioning a launch against a trendy, conventional product is another effective strategy. V-Net Beverage Inc. (Blue Island, IL) took on the big boys when it reformulated low-calorie Rush Cola. V-Net expects to compete favorably with reduced-calorie sodas such as Coca-Cola C2.

'We've conducted an informal taste comparison pitting Rush Cola against Coca-Cola C2,' stated Robert Corr, president. 'All-natural Rush Cola delivers cola flavor without artificial sweeteners. With C2, one had to hunt for the cola flavor, and some were put off by C2's use of not one, but three artificial sweeteners.'

Coca-Cola C2 is sweetened with aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose.

Coor, a 25-year beverage industry veteran, formulated Rush Cola with ginseng, rhodiola, and other herbs. 'The cola giants have strayed from the real cola flavor they offered years ago,' Corr says. 'Most consumers don't even know how good a natural cola beverage can taste, much less a natural cola boosted by an array of legendary herbs.'

Positioning a launch against a trendy, conventional product is another effective strategy. V-Net Beverage Inc. (Blue Island, IL) took on the big boys when it reformulated low-calorie Rush Cola. V-Net expects to compete favorably with reduced-calorie sodas such as Coca-Cola C2.
'We've conducted an informal taste comparison pitting Rush Cola against Coca-Cola C2,' stated Robert Corr, president. 'All-natural Rush Cola delivers cola flavor without artificial sweeteners. With C2, one had to hunt for the cola flavor, and some were put off by C2's use of not one, but three artificial sweeteners.'

Coca-Cola C2 is sweetened with aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose.

Coor, a 25-year beverage industry veteran, formulated Rush Cola with ginseng, rhodiola, and other herbs. 'The cola giants have strayed from the real cola flavor they offered years ago,' Corr says. 'Most consumers don't even know how good a natural cola beverage can taste, much less a natural cola boosted by an array of legendary herbs.'

rest of the article http://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/article.php?ArticleID=2051%20

Business Wire via COMTEX

Dec 27, 2004 3:17:00 PM

BLUE ISLAND, Ill. & RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif., Dec 27, 2004 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

V-Net Beverage, Inc (Pink Sheets:VNTB.PK) and Meritage Wine Brokerage of California announced today an agreement has been reached for V-Net to supply Meritage with botanicals for their herb infused specialty wines. V-Net has secured an equity position in the company, as part of this agreement.

Meritage's President and CEO James Clements states, "V-Net's vast experience and network for sourcing high quality botanicals are essential for Meritage's quality control and marketing edge. V-Net's long-term relationship with the herb American ginseng and other botanical suppliers will insure an adequate supply to meet a national demand. Meritage can now confidently focus on national distribution of its specialty wine brands."

V-Net's President Robert Corr concurs with Meritage's estimation that herbal infused wines are the emerging trend in the wine category today. Mr. Corr further stated: "The use of botanicals in beverages since the early 1900's has slowly grown. However, a demand has emerged over the last 5 years and trends indicate that herbal infused beverages are now here to stay."

Meritage Wine Brokerage (www.meritagewinebrokerage.net) is a licensed, full service importer of fine wines from around the world. Meritage works with its international winery clients to provide Agent/ Broker services that assure their brands have the broadest market coverage to achieve their U.S. winery goals. Meritage also co-ordinates U.S. bottling of custom branded specialty wines for its distribution partners.

V-Net Beverages (www.enjoytherush.com) is the licensed marketing agent for Rush Herbal Cola (TM), Ginseng Rush (TM), Ginseng Rush XXX (TM) and Allimax Nutraceutical Water (TM). Additionally V-Net markets Micro Laboratories, Inc. MicroSpray(R) (OTC Bulletin Board:MLAR) and Fire Mountain Beverage Company (Pink Sheets:FRBV.PK) vitamin fortified beverages through their distribution channels.

Disclaimer: The Company relies upon Safe Harbor Laws of 1933, 1934 and 1995 for all public news releases. Statements, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements. The company, through its management, makes forward-looking public statements concerning its expected future operations, performance and other developments. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the company's best judgment based upon current information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that other factors will not affect the accuracy of such forward-looking statements. It is impossible to identify all such factors. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated by the company include, but are not limited to, government regulation; managing and maintaining growth; the effect of adverse publicity; litigation; competition; and other factors which may be identified from time to time in the company's public announcements.

SOURCE: V-Net Beverage, Inc.