Goodness from Greece: New olive oil, pomegranate-based functional food enters Singapore
Launched under the brand Milestone Food for your Genes, the six liquid functional foods are developed by Greek firm Of Dreams & Knowledge and was introduced into Singapore by the local team this month.
The star ingredient – high phenolic olive oil grown in Greece is incorporated into three of the six products, namely 1) High Phenolic Olive Oil + Algae Vitamin D3 for immune, bone, and heart health, 2) High Phenolic Olive Oil + Algae Omega-3 Oil for brain, heart health and inflammation, and 3) High Phenolic Olive Oil + Omega 3, 6, 9 for brain and heart health.
The other key ingredient is fermented pomegranate with seed extract from the Wonderful variety.
It is also grown and processed in Greece and is used in three other SKUs, namely 1) Fermented Pomegranate Concentrate + Calcium and Potassium for bones, gut, and energy, 2) Pomegranate Concentrate + Natural B12 and Iron for brain, mood, energy, and 3) Pomegranate Concentrate + Curcumin and Vitamin D3 for immunity, energy, and inflammation.
With a recommended daily intake of 10ml, the functional liquid can be consumed by taking it on its own, adding it into beverages, or drizzling on food.
Of Dreams & Knowledge was founded in Greece by Konstantinos Mammasis who holds a PhD in electrical and electronic engineering from the University of Strathclyde.
The nutrition enthusiast had been working in London for 10 years before he decided to return to Greece and founded the company in 2013.
The firm’s very first product was a gourmet olive oil for food, which later expanded to include pomegranate concentrate with seed extract.
“The current products were the end point that we were gunning for, nutraceuticals, something that’s in between pharmaceuticals and nutrition,” Darren Jerome Low, general manager at Of Dreams & Knowledge (Asia) told NutraIngredients-Asia.
The production
Low said that the concept behind the functional liquid was to provide consumers with natural nutrients while being eco-friendly during the planting of its olive and pomegranate trees at the same time.
“We are very much into organic, wildlife farming practices, and biodiversity. We require our land to have all kinds of wild herbs and grasses to nurture the land and we also allow the flourishing of animals.
“Whatever is required, the plantation itself fulfils those needs, everything is found in there, and there is no need for external substances to fertilise the land.
“It is like biodynamic agriculture. We try to innovate to allow mother nature to move and run her course, that’s the whole vision.
“That’s why our three important values are slow, organic, and holistic. We don’t rush mother nature. During the tree planting process, we encourage friendly bacteria by growing mushrooms, fungi in the soil to promote the growth of good bacteria,” he said.
To preserve the phenolic content of the olive oil, Low highlighted that the olive fruits were hand plucked when they were still unripe.
The fruits are then stored in wooden crates and washed with spring water, before they are crushed in a vacuumed facility under a specific temperature.
To fully utilise the harvest, even the seeds are crushed to make the olive oil.
By using the whole fruit, the firm believes that this could “retain the active compounds, the derivatives, and the sub-derivatives in the olive oil,” Low said.
The R&D and manufacturing of the products are based in Patras Science Park – one of the six science and technology parks established in Greece in the early 90s.
Market plans
The upcoming plan for the Singapore market is to work with nutritionists, doctors, and specialised organic shops in selling the products.
The firm began a pilot trial in January and started the official launch in Singapore in September, where the products are currently sold on its website.
The six functional liquid are also sold in Greece.
