Posted on: Monday, June 04, 2001

Aquasearch signs deal with U.S. distributor

By John Duchemin
Advertiser Staff Writer

A national wholesaler has signed a deal with Aqua-search to distribute AstaFactor, the Kona biotechnology company's flagship nutritional supplement.

The sale of AstaFactor supplies to wholesaler Advantage Webco Dodge, the Hawai'i arm of Advantage Sales and Marketing L.L.C., will significantly increase Aquasearch revenues and potentially expand the market range of AstaFactor, a microalgae-derived anti-oxidant, said Mark Huntley, Aquasearch founder.

Huntley would not say how much the deal is worth.

The deal eliminates the need for Aquasearch to expand its sales and marketing staff, Huntley said.

Advantage promotes, markets and sells more than 1,200 food and packaged-good brands to retail outlets across America. Clients include M&M Mars, Tropicana, Unilever HPC and TwinLab, and customers include Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target, Sam's Club, Costco, Albertson's and Safeway.

The local Advantage arm has a staff of 12 and distributes products to about 200 Hawai'i retail outlets.

Aquasearch produces astaxanthin and other biological compounds from algae grown in patented growth tanks. AstaFactor is the company's first commercial product.