Company Press Release - BioVittoria - PureLo - Product Development and Marketing

Updated: 26-November-2007

BioVittoria Receives "Dragon Head" Status from Chinese Authorities

BioVittoria reports that its Chinese subsidiary Guilin BioGFS, has been awarded the coveted Dragon Head Company designation, issued by the government of Guilin City.

The Dragon Head designation is also known as the “Flagship Company of the Industry”. This title recognises BioGFS’s excellence and vision as the leader in the Luo Han Guo Industry.

The government policy for the Dragon Head award states that "Successful economic development depends upon effective leading businesses that not only communicate but implement ideas". The criteria from which a company is nominated to the Dragon Head status includes the following:

- Demonstrate leadership, excellence, and commitment to innovation in its industry.

- Support local, regional, and national government initiatives.

- Conduct business with a high level of integrity.

- Produce a value-added product or service, be highly profitable and have strong financial and R&D capability.

- Demonstrate a competitive advantage, have independent control of its products, and specialise in one or a few certain areas.

- Demonstrate the capability and commitment to advance, grow, and lead their industry forward.

Dr Lan Fusheng, CEO of BioGFS said: "I am delighted that our continuing development and leadership of the Luo Han Guo industry in Guilin has been recognised with this award.”

Updated: 5-August-2007

Adulteration and Contamination Free Declaration

In response to the concerns raised by the recent publicity of adulteration and contamination of certain products from China, BioVittoria would like to assure all our customers that PureLo®, our proprietary Luo Han concentrate, is free from any adulteration or contamination. BioVittoria takes the following steps to ensure our product is at all times carefully monitored and controlled during all aspects of processing.

The Luo Han fruit from which our PureLo® is derived is a protected plant in China, and is exclusively cultivated in China. It can not legally be grown elsewhere.
BioVittoria controls the production and cultivation of PureLo®, from seedling through to final packaging.
PureLo® is produced from BioVittoria’s patented plant varieties which produce the highest quality fresh fruit, and grown by our contracted farmers.
BioVittoria’s farmers adhere to strict Standard Operating Procedures for cultivation and harvesting.
We have an extensive team of farm advisers working with our farmers to ensure our Standard Operating Procedures are followed

Every batch of PureLo® is tested prior to packaging which further ensures there is no contamination or adulteration

Our production process is supervised by our own employees and uses only FDA approved processing aids

We are Kosher certified

BioVittoria remains committed to producing the highest quality Luo Han in the market, and is happy to discuss any questions you may have regarding this issue, please contact us at info@biovittoria.com

Updated: 10-Apr-2007

New Zealand Senior Officials visited BioVittoria's Production Base in Guilin, China

From left to right: Dr. Fusheng Lan, Dr. Garth Smith, Warden Yang (of Yanshan district), Minister Cunliffe, Warden Li, Ambassador Browne, Browne's assistant

On 14^th March, New Zealand Minister of Immigration Hon. David Cunliffe and New Zealand's Ambassador Tony Browne, toured Biovittoria's Production Base in Guilin, China. Cunliffe and Browne met with Dr. Garth Smith, Managing Director and one of the co-founders of Biovittoria, and Dr. Lan Fusheng, Board President and CEO of BioGFS (BioGFS is Biovittoria's 100% subsidiary company in China).

New Zealand's Trade Commissioner Alan Young and Vice Mayor of Guilin Liu Tingyu joined Dr. Smith and Dr. Lan in hosting the Minister and the Ambassador's visit.

Mr. Cunliffe spoke highly of Biovittoria's effort to build a Luo Han Guo Industry. He sees that Biovittoria sets an excellent example to other New Zealand firms that are willing to do businesses in China. "Biovittoria is a great path-finder." the Minister said.

"We're happy that the Minister and the Ambassador took the time to visit our factory. We'll continue our efforts and I would like to highlight the support we received from both New Zealand and Chinese Governments", says Dr. Garth Smith.

Dr. Lan Fusheng also emphasized the benefits Biovittoria can bring to both China and New Zealand.

The plant employs 28 workers at the moment. About US$3,500,000 was invested in its establishment in 2004. The company has also acquired a total of 7.29 hectares land this year to build more factories and coolstores in Guilin City.

Updated: 10-Mar-2007

BioVittoria Tastes Sweet Success at China Trade Awards

(From left to right: Hon Phil Goff the Minister of Trade, Stephen LeFebvre the Managing Director and co-founder of Biovittoria, David Thorrold the CEO of Biovittoria)

BioVittoria - a New Zealand company commercialising PureLo®, a 100% natural, zero-calorie sweetener made from the Luo Han fruit grown only in Southern China - has been awarded the top prize at this year’s New Zealand China Trade Association Awards.

BioVittoria has won both the Entrepreneur and Innovation Award and the Supreme Trade Award at the bi-annual New Zealand China Trade Association Awards, beating out some of the country’s best known exporters including Fonterra, New Zealand Steel and Ngai Tahu Seafood.

The award was accepted by Biovittoria’s CEO David Thorrold and its co-founder, Stephen LeFebvre. Mr. Thorrold stated the Company’s success has come from implementing a business model that benefits everyone involved from the farmers who grow the fruit to consumers who can enjoy their favourite treats without adding calories or artificial sweeteners.

“By supporting large-scale growing of Luo Han we are contributing to an increased standard of living in the rural areas of Southern China where our growers are based. At the same time we have brought a unique sweetener to market which gives food and beverage companies and their consumers access to a 100% natural, zero-calorie alternative to sugar and artificial sweeteners,”.

When asked what special qualities the judges had seen in BioVittoria Mr. LeFebvre had this to say:

“The breadth of our operation is what, I believe, made us stand out from other award finalists.

“BioVittoria is heavily involved in all aspects of the business - from development of improved plant varieties, right through to marketing to our customers, who include some of the world’s largest food and beverage companies.

(From left to right: Stuart Ferguson, Chairman of the NZTCA, David Thorrold the CEO of Biovittoria, Stephen LeFebvre the Managing Director and co-founder of Biovittoria and David Figgins, Cathay Pacific Country Manager, New Zealand and Pacific Islands)

Mr. Thorrold also stated BioVittoria’s business was a great example of how New Zealand companies can work with Chinese partners to create innovative products.

“BioVittoria has utilised New Zealand expertise in plant science, agronomics, food processing and marketing to develop a unique agricultural product from a traditional Chinese crop. This is the sort of win-win collaboration which the New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement will hopefully help to foster,” explained Mr Thorrold.

Mr. Thorrold also noted the importance of Government support in helping new companies like BioVittoria grow.

“The support we have had in the form of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise funding and direct investment from the NZ Venture Investment Fund through venture capital firm, Endeavour ICap, has been significant in getting our business to this stage,” he explained.

BioVittoria is a product development and marketing company that identifies, cultivates, refines, and markets proprietary biomaterials and scientifically proven, bioactive compounds. BioVittoria’s corporate headquarters are at the Waikato Innovation Park in Hamilton. It also has offices in China and the USA.

Based within the Chamber of Commerce in Auckland, New Zealand, the New Zealand-China Trade Association is managed by a professional secretariat responsible to an Executive Council of Association members. There are 100 New Zealand members.

The New Zealand China Trade Association Awards were held in Auckland on 23 February and were sponsored by NZ China Trade Association, Cathay Pacific, HSBC, DHL, Cosco, and Richina Pacific.

Updated: 10-Feb-2007

Biovittoria Invited to Premier's Spring Festival Banquet.

On 9th February 2007, Managing Director of BioVittoria Dr. Garth Smith was invited by the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to attend the Spring Festival Banquet held in The People's Great Hall, Beijing.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Personnel Minister He Guoqiang, Dr. Smith and 30 other foreign experts and entrepreneurs celebrated the Chinese Spring Festival (also known as the Chinese New Year) together in this State event.

BioVittoria received special attention at the banquet for its remarkable achievement in expanding employment and improving the living standard in rural areas. Premier Wen also highly praised BioVittoria and Dr. Smith's pioneering work in the area of plant science and contributing to the success of the Luo Han Guo industry. The Premier acknowledged the company's development of sustainable agricultural programs that support his rural initiatives assisting the indigenous communities and helping them to remain in their homeland areas. "Thank you for supporting our indigenous people all these years", Premier Wen said to Smith, "It is my pleasure to work with a friend like you to move this country forward".

Dr. Smith has built extensive relationship with the Chinese Government and the local community since 1980's. "Premier Wen Jiabao came to me and proposed a toast" Smith said, "I am happy to know that the Premier and the Government recognise BioVittoria as a trustworthy company leading the Luo Han industry."

Updated: 8-Jan-2007

Biovittoria Limited announces the formation of the PureLo® Foundation

Stephen LeFebvre and Dr. Garth Smith, the co-founders and Managing Directors of Biovittoria Limited announced today the formation of the PureLo® Foundation, a non-profit organization established to support health, education, and community projects in its Luo Han growing communities in the southern provinces of China. BioVittoria Ltd and its subsidiary, Guilin BioGFS Ltd of Guilin, have committed to donate a percentage of fruit purchases each year to the Foundation. In addition BioVittoria will invite their partners and customers to contribute to the Foundation.

The Foundation will work closely with local and regional officials and communities, to identify and implement appropriate projects. "BioVittoria is delighted to be making a positive contribution to the local indigenous communities.", LeFebvre said, "Our philosophy is to build a sustainable business based around high standards of ethical behaviour towards all our stakeholders, while at the same time making a positive contribution to the economic and physical well being of the our farming communities."