UK-headquartered Totally Natural Solutions (TNS), a provider of natural hop oil extracts to the brewing industry, and beyond, has signed a major partnership with New Zealand supplier NZ Hops Ltd.
TNS founder Colin Wilson
The deal is part of TNS’s rapid expansion, which has seen it grow from start-up to a global brewery partner within eight years. It was established in Tonbridge, Kent, in 2013 by Colin Wilson, who had been a director with Barth Haas, the world’s largest supplier of hop products and services.
Colin has ambitious growth plans for TNS, including tripling its turnover to £10 million over the next three years, and the firm is investing heavily in staff development and systems.
The partnership with NZ Hops is expected to deliver 50% turnover growth in the first year. TNS will put £1m of capital expenditure into the business and immediately create five new jobs, to increase its staff to 25. TNS’s mission is to be the
partner of choice globally for innovative natural hop extracts.
The partnership is designed to deliver more efficient and sustainable access to NZ Hops worldwide. With a focus on sustainability, TNS uses patented hop oil separation processes to deliver clean-label hop extracts for the developing craft beer sector and for global brewers.
It uses a 100% natural process of oil extraction to retain the quality of aroma and flavour profiles from hop cones. No chemical solvents or additives are involved. The natural extracts can be used to complement or replace the use of hop cones and pellets, adding aroma and flavour impact across a range of lager, IPA and low-alcohol beer styles.
The increasing popularity of low- and no-alcohol beer brings additional challenges in meeting flavour expectations, which TNS’s hop oil extracts are well placed to meet.
There are multiple benefits for brewers. The hop oil extracts can reduce waste by allowing the balance of bitterness, aroma, and flavour to be easily modified. They can also help reduce the amount of stock that brewers need to hold, and simplify the
supply chain — a major advantage given the disruption caused to logistics by the covid-19 global pandemic.
‘We have lots of major developments in the pipeline, as an innovator and disruptor in a relatively traditional industry’
Colin Wilson, who has worked in a variety of natural product roles in the pharmaceutical and brewing industries, said: “This agreement is part of an exciting growth phase for us. Forming a partnership with the leading hop co-operative in New Zealand allows us to apply our knowledge and skills to their diverse and unique range of flavours and aromas. It’s a perfect marriage of technology, expertise, and the finest quality raw material.
“We have lots of major developments in the pipeline, as an innovator and disruptor in a relatively traditional industry. We are establishing new relationships with brewers of all sizes across the world, from craft to corporates, and enhancing existing ones. We’re in an ideal position to help address the issue of hop shortages in various parts of the world.”
He added: “The opportunities for TNS go way beyond brewers and beers, although that is our core target market. For example, our natural hop oil extracts can be used in a range of diverse applications, such as beauty and skin care, gin and other spirits, to improve flavour and baking.
“And core to everything we do is sustainability — using extracts reduces water use, beer loss, and energy consumption, and means every kilo of hops brews more beer.”
Craig Orr, chief executive of NZ Hops, said: “This is a really exciting new partnership agreement for us. We are seeing greater demand for our hops as we deliver flavours and aromas that are unique to our NZ-grown varieties. This deal allows us to increase the accessibly of what we offer.
“The process of extraction of the precious oils sees less waste in the overall hop, and the final products extend our market offering and ultimately the consumer experience of our hops. It’s a win-win.”
