Based on its recent analysis of the probiotics market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes UAS Laboratories, Inc. with the 2010 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for Customer Value Enhancement of the Year. With its intense focus on R&D, its game changing innovations in quality control of probiotic products, and a broad line of condition-specific products, UAS Laboratories stands apart from its competitors.
“In the crowded probiotics market, where multiple manufacturers offer different products with generic health claims, growth is driven by specific validated claims for your products, with strong marketing support,” says Frost & Sullivan Senior Research Analyst, Dr. Kaushik. “However, condition-specific product formulation requires intensive effort in identifying the candidate strains, means of application, formulation for stability and efficacy, and finally cost effectiveness.”
UAS Laboratories has leveraged the intensive R&D efforts of its founder, Dr. S.K. Dash, and his core team of scientists to meet the market demand for validated condition-specific products. The DDS-1 super strain of Lactobacillus, held as a patent, and US Trademark by the company and marketed since 1979, has been crucial to driving growth and acting as a pointer towards further innovation.
The company already manufactures five condition-specific probiotic formulations for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), atopic dermatitis, digestive and immune health, and urinary tract health for women. The latest product, the Cran-Gyn DDS® women’s health formulation, has received an excellent response from customers and consumers. A combination of strain selection, packaging techniques, and a proprietary formulation technique that reduces the water activity of the final product, contribute to these products having a long and stable shelf life up to two years at room temperature.
UAS Laboratories’ strain selection methods also address the need for a gut stable probiotic product. Technologies for enteric stability of probiotics depend, among other things, on coating technologies, which are currently in their fourth generation. Uniquely, UAS Laboratories has stuck to the original principle of choosing an inherently stable probiotic strain with desirable probiotic effect for their products. Up to 97 percent of the probiotics reach the intestine after passing through the stomach. This provides a cost advantage to the final consumer, who does not have to pay for additional enteric coating.
“Significantly, UAS Laboratories ensures a strong scientific validation for its products through nearly 200 studies as individual, collaborative, or sponsored efforts between the industry and academia,” notes Dr. Kaushik. “The company has rightly identified the strategy of working with Universities to maintain a healthy pipeline of products and keep R&D costs low, thereby keeping the cost low for the consumer.”
UAS Laboratories extends strong technical service to all areas of a customer’s operation so that the final product quality, when it reaches the consumer, remains unaffected. Its probiotics are manufactured in a GMP certified manufacturing facility, with strict quality control. There is transparency in the entire quality control process, which ensures customers are adequately satisfied with the quality of the product. Besides Kosher and Halal certification, the company has received the NSF certification for GMP.
UAS also has an open policy when it comes to product availability. Formulations and blends are available either as branded, private labeling, or as raw material for further product development. Overall, UAS Laboratories positions itself as a complete probiotic resource company, and is flexible in the means by which its products are made available to the customer.
With this kind of positioning, the company has been able to sell into the dietary supplements market, as well as the food & beverage ingredients market. The informal customer service approach of the company is key to the loyal customer base and assures prompt and effective service by the company’s personnel.
In recognition of the innovative products, robust R&D platform and unique value to customers, UAS Laboratories is the worthy recipient of the 2010 Frost & Sullivan award for Customer Value Enhancement of the Year in the North American probiotics market. Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has demonstrated excellence in implementing strategies that proactively create value for its customers with a focus on improving the return on the investment that customers make in its services or products. This award recognizes the company’s focus on enhancing the value that its customers receive, beyond simply good customer service, leading to improved customer retention and ultimately customer base expansion.
Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.
Source: Frost & Sullivan