Two New Formats
DolCas Biotech, the New Jersey-based nutraceutical ingredient supplier, is expanding commercial applications for its Curcugen® full-spectrum curcuminoid complex into functional food and beverage formats through partnerships with Mānukora, Ltd. and SLS Performance Pte., Ltd., maker of the cognitive drink Numin. The company will showcase both applications at SupplySide Global 2026, Booth #6011.
The move signals a broader industry pivot: branded ingredient suppliers are increasingly targeting food and beverage matrices — rather than conventional capsules and tablets — as primary delivery vehicles for bioactive compounds. For Curcugen®, the ingredient's Self-Affirmed GRAS status for specified uses, water dispersibility, and mild flavor profile are the technical enablers. Human pharmacokinetic data cited by DolCas Biotech shows more than 50-fold greater bioavailability of total curcuminoids compared with a standard 95% curcumin extract, a figure the company says supports low-dose formulation across a wide range of product types.
The Honey Application
Mānukora, a New Zealand-origin Mānuka honey brand, is incorporating Curcugen® into a "Body Recovery & Gut" product built on raw MGO 850+ Mānuka honey. The formula combines the turmeric extract with concentrated ginger and Sicilian lemon oil. Benjamin Nahar, Head of Product Development and Herbal Science at Mānukora, positioned the pairing as rooted in Ayurvedic tradition, noting that honey has historically functioned as a yogavahi — a carrier medium that amplifies the effects of companion herbs. "Curcugen is a full-spectrum extract that retains the plant's naturally occurring oils and constituents," Nahar said. "It boasts substantially greater bioavailability compared to a standard 95% curcumin extract, allowing us to deliver meaningful potency without having to reduce it to isolated curcuminoids." The formulation targets the intersection of the premium honey category and the functional wellness segment — two areas of sustained retail growth in the broader food and beverage market.
The Cognitive Beverage Play
Curcugen® also anchors the formulation of Numin, a single-serve orange-flavored powder sachet from SLS Performance marketed around "decision fatigue" — a cognitive-performance concept gaining traction among brands targeting professional and executive consumers. Numin's internal evaluations report improved mental clarity and sustained decision-making, with effects observed within approximately 60 minutes and lasting up to six hours; the company states this assessment builds on previously published human research. Arun Hozack, CEO of Numin, said the brand chose Curcugen® for its clinical grounding and formulation flexibility inside a functional beverage matrix. "We wanted a formulation validated on outcomes people would actually feel," Hozack said. "Fewer reckless choices, fewer default choices, and sustained clarity late into the day."
What's Next for Curcugen
K G Rao, founder and CEO of DolCas Biotech, described the dual launches as a demonstration of Curcugen®'s potential across delivery formats beyond traditional supplement forms — including ready-to-drink wellness shots, gummies, and functional chocolate. The company reports that several clinical research programs are currently underway exploring health categories not traditionally associated with curcumin, though no timelines or specific indications were disclosed. Curcugen® has existing clinical investigation across exercise recovery, gastrointestinal wellness, knee joint health, bioavailability, and safety. The SupplySide Global booth will also feature Morikol® marine collagen tripeptide applications, underscoring DolCas Biotech's broader strategy of repositioning nutraceutical ingredients as formulation platforms for food and beverage innovation.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
