RiceBran Technologies Enters the Personal Care and Nutricosmetics Markets with a Series of Newly Developed Rice Bran Based Products

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- RiceBran Technologies (NASDAQ: RIBT) and (RIBTW) (the "Company" or "RBT"), a global leader in the production and marketing of value added products derived from rice bran, today announced completion of the development of a series of new rice bran-based finished products targeting the personal care and nutricosmetics markets. 

In collaboration with new and existing customers, the Company has developed its initial cosmetics and personal care product offerings using rice bran and derivatives produced in its USA Segment plants, as well as rice bran oil manufactured at its Irgovel facility in Pelotas, Brazil.

The new rice bran-based products, which include hand and skin creams, anti-aging serum, exfoliants, moisturizers, and other treatments, were formulated at the Company's Healthy Natural facility in Irving, Texas. Healthy Natural's management team has extensive experience formulating and manufacturing natural products-based cosmetics and personal care products for the retail and direct-to-consumer markets, and has been developing products targeting the personal care and cosmetics markets for more than 20 years. 

These new product offerings will be sold as private label finished products on a business-to-business basis. RiceBran Tehnologies is in active discussions with a number of potential partners to launch its products through a variety of distribution channels and expects the initial products to reach consumers in the fourth quarter of 2014 and the first quarter of 2015.

Mark McKnight, Senior Vice President of Contract Manufacturing at RiceBran Technologies, commented, "During the last decade, the natural products industry has seen nutritional ingredients rich in anti-oxidants and other micronutrients migrate into cosmetics and personal care formulas, creating an emerging "nutricosmetics" marketplace. Rice bran contains many high value ingredients, including gamma oryzanols, ceramides, vitamin E and UV absorbing compounds that help protect and maintain skin health by promoting hydration and elasticity.  We see our newly launched rice bran-based products as a perfect fit for this multi-billion dollar market opportunity."

CEO & President W. John Short commented, "Rice bran has a long history of inclusion in beauty products in Japan and other Asian markets. In fact, one of the greatest compliments a Japanese woman can be given is to be called a "rice bran beauty" or Nuka Bijin. When we made the decision to acquire Healthy Natural, we believed that the addition of superior formulation capabilities would not only further our market penetration in nutritional and functional foods but would also enable us to move into other high growth areas such as the nutricosmetics and personal care markets. With this launch, we are taking a major step forward in that direction. This represents a significant revenue growth opportunity for our Company in 2015 and for many years to come."

RiceBran Technologies is a human food ingredient and animal nutrition company focused on the procurement, bio-refining and marketing of numerous products derived from rice bran. Rice Bran Technologies has proprietary and patented intellectual property that allows us to convert rice bran, one of the world's most underutilized food sources, into a number of highly nutritious human food ingredient and animal nutrition products. Our target markets are human food ingredients and animal nutrition manufacturers and retailers, as well as natural food, functional food and nutraceutical supplement manufacturers and retailers, both domestically and internationally. More information can be found in our filings with the SEC and by visiting our website at www.ricebrantech.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements about RiceBran Technologies' expectations regarding opportunities in the cosmetics. These statements are made based upon current expectations that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties.  RiceBran Technologies does not undertake to update forward-looking statements in this news release to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting such forward-looking information.  Assumptions and other information that could cause results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking information can be found in RiceBran Technologies' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent periodic reports. 

Investor Contact

Ascendant Partners, LLC
Fred Sommer
+1-732-410-9810
[email protected]

SOURCE RiceBran Technologies