The fruit, the whole fruit, and nothing but the fruit: Draco and TRU join on aseptically packaged ingredients
Fruit/veg processor Draco Natural Products and aseptic packaging outfit TRU Aseptics are blending to form Draco-Tru Ingredients. The mashup company will produce, market, and distribute aseptically packaged fruit and vegetable concentrates, extracts, and purees for use in food and vegetable products.
Market first
Draco CEO Jerry Wu told FoodProductionDaily the newly formed firm is a standout, thanks to its offering of organic, whole fruit and veg in aseptic containers.
“We are planning to provide an entirely new offering of advanced ingredients using state-of-the-art processing technologies,” he said. “These technologies will produce superior organoleptic, functional and nutritional properties not available in the market today."
According to company representatives, Draco-Tru Ingredients offerings will combine the nutritional and functional benefits of whole fruit and vegetables; and the aseptic benefits of extended shelf life, ability to transport and store without need for refrigeration, and safety.
Company contributions
Draco will bring to the table the manufacturing technology and infrastructure, sourcing and R&D platform, and extraction and processing knowledge. The company reportedly has a number of proprietary extraction and manufacturing technologies in its stable.
TRU, by turn, will offer its proprietary aseptic technologies, as well as sales and marketing knowledge.
TRU Aseptics partner James Hurley said the merger of technologies and resources will provide food and beverage companies with bottom-line and safety benefits.
“Draco-TRU Ingredients will provide clients with significant cost savings, added food safety, and highly improved quality over current frozen and acidified concentrates and purees,” he said.
