News: 23 February 07
Healthy drinks a smart start for Manawatu company

Ever wondered why long life milk is only available in tetrapak cartons and not bottles?

The reason is the technological challenges involved in aseptically (free from micro organisms) packaging milk in bottles so it does not spoil. However, a Manawatu company, Xenos Limited, has risen to the task and developed its own technology for aseptically filling bottles.

With more than 20 years experience in the dairy and beverage industry, Mike Rockell, Managing Director of Xenos Limited, designed and constructed an aseptic filling system in 2004. The key strength of the system is its ability to sterilise bottles and caps immediately before filling and do this in a completely germ free environment.

To build on Mike Rockell’s breakthrough, the company then secured government investment of $90,000 to help it further develop and prove the technology. The government support has come through the Technology for Business Growth scheme, administered by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology.

Xenos’s next step was to launch its own branded product, Xenegy, into the schools market. Xenegy is a healthy snack drink and a good alternative to flavoured milk as it has much less fat and sugar, but more protein and calcium. This product has been selling steadily since 2005.

At the recent NZ Juice and Beverage Annual Awards, Xenegy beat strongly established competitors to win the Energy and Lifestyle Beverages award and was the most preferred beverage among school children who were asked to evaluate a range of drinks. The innovative edge in Xenos’ technology was also recognised with the an extended shelf life carrot juice and a yoghurt smoothie, both made for Arano Juice by Xenos, also winning awards.

Since launching itself to the dairy and beverage industries as a contract manufacturer and supplier of aseptic systems, Xenos has received strong interest from within New Zealand and Australia and several projects are underway.

"The cost of installing a tetra brik plant makes it prohibitive for companies wanting to produce smaller runs of high value, niche beverages," says Xenos Business Manager Pippa Rockell. "There are a range of sizes and styles with bottles, they are more attractive, popular with consumers and can be recycled, so there are many attractions to beverage marketing companies in utilising our capability."

Mike Rockell says the sterilisation principle the company is using is not novel but ‘we are the first to find a way to make it work with bottles’.

"Furthermore our filler design is inherently very compact and flexible and this offers further appeal. We are also achieving excellent shelf life for products that traditionally require constant chilling, without any deterioration in flavour, which is a common side effect of extending shelf life. The 100% carrot juice is an excellent example of this."

Mike Rockell says that significant long term value in the technology lies in its ability to produce beverages that do not need refrigeration for countries which lack good refrigerated cool chains.

"In small, isolated markets around the Pacific basin or in Asia and Latin America for example, where shops and homes don’t always have a way to keep things cold, there is real potential to use our technology to get dairy-based drinks to market, safely, affordably and reliably."

Xenos has established production facilities and is also a member company of the Manawatu Bio Commerce Centre. Pippa Rockell says the support provided by the centre and through the government research and development investment has kick started growth in the company.

"We’ve invested everything in this enterprise – it’s taken three years of drive, determination and working incredibly hard. To have others believe in your idea and give you the practical help needed to bring it to fruition is fantastic."

Xenos has a patent pending on its technology.

Further Information:
Mike Rockell, Managing Director, Xenos Limited
Pippa Rockell, Business Manager, Xenos Limited
Tel 06 354 4690
Email mike@xenos.co.nz or pippa@xenos.co.nz
Web www.xenos.co.nz

Elisabeth Feary,
Business Manager,
Foundation for Research, Science and Technology
Tel 04 917 7837 or 021 799 483
Email Elisabeth.feary@frst.govt.nz

Brenda Lazelle,
Incubator Manager,
The Bio Commerce Centre
Tel 06 352 0102
Mobile 027 60 90 703
Email Brenda@biocommerce.co.nz