Good goat: Nuchev expands formula range to meet rising consumer demand
One of the products, the Goat Milk Junior Drink (Stage 4), is formulated for children between three and seven years of age.
Said to be the first product of its kind in Australia, it was launched in January, and according to Nuchev, sales so far have been steady.
Speaking to NutraIngredients-Asia, founder and CEO Ben Dingle said: "Our Goat Milk Junior Drink (Stage 4) is the smart choice because it is a natural progression from the Toddler Milk Drink (Stage 3).
"It provides the nutrition to assist with growth and development for children between the ages of three and seven. It contains Bifida bacteria (BB356 from a human strain) — which is compatible with children's digestive systems — as well as natural prebiotic oligosaccharides to aid with gut health and digestion. Of course, kids love the taste as well."
The other product is a full-cream goat milk powder that is said to provide the same nutritional benefits as fresh goat's milk, but in a convenient long-life format.
Dingle said: "The full-cream goat milk is great for everyone above the age of seven, especially adults looking to enjoy the health benefits of goat's milk, with the added convenience of a long-life format.
"Research shows goat's milk is more easily digested than cow's milk, and is naturally higher in essential vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin A for good vision and calcium for strong teeth and bones, making it the perfect drink choice from the cradle to old age."
Driven by demand
He added that the expansion of the Oli6 range was very much driven by consumer demand, which has grown along with increased awareness of the health benefits of goat’s milk across all age groups.
Presently, goat milk formula accounts for approximately 10% of total formula sales in Australia, with a yearly turnover of above A$100m. Oli6 itself has seen 500% year-on-year growth across all distribution channels so far.
The brand's products are sold in over 1,000 Chemist Warehouse outlets and 200 independent supermarkets in Australia, and its two newest products are available both online and offline.
Dingle said: "They complement our existing Oli6 range in selected pharmacies, and will also be available in China through our existing distribution channels.
"Initially, we were surprised at the strength of demand (for the new products) and had to scramble to keep up. Through independent reviews we know our customers love our Oli6 brand, so we can understand why the launch has been so successful.
"We have an existing loyal customer base who have seen their babies and toddlers thrive on Oli6. Now they have the assurance that their children can continue to enjoy the natural goodness of our goat-based products as they embark on new life stages."
He further said that the full-cream goat milk powder would be a hit among the growing number of adults who are switching from cow's milk to goat's milk, adding that there had been "exceptional demand" for the product since it launched in January.
Oli6 has also updated its packaging for its entire range to coincide with the launch of these new products.
"Parents are becoming more aware of the benefits of goat's milk, so we wanted something that would not only stand out on the shelf, but also strongly identify Oli6 as a high-quality Australian-made goat milk product that conveys all those health benefits," said Dingle.
Research and reliability
Oli6's goat milk formula has also been used in scientific studies, with the most recent one by RMIT confirming its natural benefits.
The three-year study, which is currently being peer-reviewed by the British Journal of Nutrition, reported that Oli6's goat milk formula contained 14 naturally occurring prebiotic oligosaccharides, five of which are also present in human breastmilk.
These oligosaccharides are said to encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria, and lower the incidence of harmful bacteria.
The researchers analysed cow's milk formula, fresh goat’s milk, and Oli6's goat milk formula, and measured the potential of different types of milk, formulae and artificial prebiotics to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria and minimise the gastrointestinal infections.
They then reported that the natural oligosaccharides in the Oli6 formula could inhibit harmful bacteria like E. coli from attaching themselves to human intestinal cells
Dingle said these findings supported Nuchev's aim of providing a premium product that delivered on its health promises.
"Goat's milk has six times the number of prebiotic oligosaccharides in cow's milk, so there are human health benefits cow's milk can't replicate: less intolerance or fewer allergies and easier digestion, and (it is) structurally closer to human breastmilk than cow’s milk.
"These scientific findings are important because they give mothers who don't breastfeed a reason to believe that our formula is a natural, additive-free replacement that promotes good gut health."
