Bioceval-Lipromar
in Cuxhaven

Group: Bioceval is a subsidiary of Saria, a unit of the Rethmann group, owned by a German family (85,000 employees). Bioceval in Europe: Germany (Cuxhaven), France (Concarneau) and Spain. In Germany it brings together the Bioceval factory, Lipromar and the transporter Visser.

Workforce: 65 employees in Bioceval and 15 in Lipromar, in 3x8.

Volumes: Bioceval processes 100,000 tonnes of co-products per year and sells 24,000 tonnes of flour, including 13,000 tonnes of salmon flour; and 14,000 t of oil. Lipromar processes 6,500 t per year, 90-95% of Atlantic salmon, processed into 1,000 t of flour, including 150 t with high added value. And 1000 t of oil.

Market: Bioceval, more than 50% for export, notably Mediterranean aquaculture and pet-food in Europe. Lipromar, 50/50 between Europe and the United States.

Andreas Wohltmann,
R&D manager at Bioceval Lipromar, aged 63, still enjoys "creating new products and taking them to market. After operational implementation, it takes a lot of marketing. "

The ancients remember the spoonfuls of cod liver oil received by children to avoid deficiencies, which lift the heart. The shape changed with capsules, without taste or smell. Lipromar, created by Bioceval in Cuxhaven (Germany), thus extracts fish oil, encapsulated by its partner Nutrilo. Today, Lipromar is betting on the return of fish oil to the kitchen. We tested… and it's worth going beyond your preconceptions.

This product takes Bioceval out of its basic activities. The company collects byproducts of marine resources and transforms them into oil and flour for animal feed. "The co-products come from the fishing centers of Bremerhaven and Cuxhaven, and from the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Denmark, Croatia, Iceland, Norway ...", lists the director, Bodo von Holten. Fishing (Alaska pollock, redfish, plaice, herring, etc.) or aquaculture (trout, salmon, etc.), but of high quality and unmixed to produce pure products. Opportunities have evolved. "At the beginning, we supplied feed for pigs and poultry, but fishmeal is twice as expensive as the vegetable, we stopped, except for piglets", says Andreas Wohltmann, R&D manager. The company turned to aquaculture food and pet-food, growing markets. “The manufacturers ask us in particular for MSC certified flours”. The company has guaranteed MSC flours and oils since 2009 (cod, saithe, herring) and ASC since 2015 (salmon, trout, shrimp).

The best raw material goes to the Lipromar factory built in 2015, supplied fresh up to twice a day: 90-95% of Atlantic salmon. The products are intended for human consumption: proteins, flavors, additives, ingredients ... These markets are explored by Andreas Wohltmann, who arrived in 2012 to create the R&D department. He surrounds himself with students and cooperates with institutes. He launched the salmon protein powder in 2015, and the salmon meat sausage, "but the German market is not fond of it." Or collagen for cosmetics from carp or tilapia, "but the production cost, at 2 euros per kilo, is double the selling price, it doesn't make sense. "

On the other hand, the oil capsule is a success. The world market for this food supplement is growing rapidly, with tuna oils with a high DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) level, intended for pregnant women and infants; and a larger market, with an 80/20 balance between EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA, to supplement athletes and seniors. "Humans only create these omega 3s, which are essential for metabolism, in small quantities, and this ability decreases with age.” Classic capsules mix oils, concentrated and treated. “The industrial process with deodorization, heating, destroys beneficial trace elements and produces harmful ones”, deplores the biologist. “Often a rancid taste arises.”  Lipromar therefore proposed to its neighbor, Nutrilo, to make capsules of native oils: a 50/50 mixture of cod, for its high level of EPA and DHA (21%) and of salmon, for its orange color. "This real oil capsule, without additives or processing, is half as rich in EPA and DHA as the classic, but it's like a real piece of fish," says Jörg Pallentin, director of Nutrilo. “Better to take two capsules of pure oil than one denatured.” Once the product was developed, its stability was tested over three years. It has been marketed for two years under the Purafit and Cuxan-Ω brands. "It is a success," said Jörg Pallentin.

Lipromar targets a wider audience with bottled oil. An economical product, because encapsulation is expensive. Ecological: salmon oil, certified organic and ASC, comes only from co-products. And healthier: no need for drying. "All the natural qualities of the oil are preserved: antioxidants, vitamins, color”, enthuses Andreas Wohltmann. “It combines health and taste.” The oil is available in nature, lemon, garlic and Mediterranean versions (with aromatic herbs). To enhance fish, shrimps, salads, sauces ... Despite these advantages, launching is not easy. Production started in 2016, “but we are having trouble finding distributors. This product disappointed." The company is therefore reinventing its distribution channels, from B to B to B to C. "We have a little sales in a shop in Cuxhaven, but it is too little. We are reviewing our strategy: name, design, internet sales, etc. ” With certainly more trade faires. "People, initially skeptical, are convinced when we can explain this product and that they taste it."

The first target market is Germany, but export offers potential. "Asian cuisine uses fish oil. It has his products, but we have a chance, with a quality image. We had a contract, but it is necessary that salmon oil be added to the authorized products to China, the procedure is underway. ” Another track: “Russia could take larger capacities. But it's a difficult market to access.” In any case, you can't find this flavored salmon oil in France. Too bad, she would have had her chance at the Coups de Coeur for Innovation!

Report : Solène LE ROUX