Amyris signs MoU with Brazil’s Contém 1G

Amyris, an industrial bioscience firm, has signed an exclusive distribution and reseller agreement with Contém 1G, a leading cosmetics company in Brazil.

Contém 1G has a distribution model through its 190 retail stores across the Latin American country.

Brazil is considered to be one of the fastest-growing cosmetics markets in the world.

The Biossance brand, with existing and future products incorporating Amyris’s Neossance Squalane high-performance emollient derived from sustainable sugar cane, is seen as ideal for the Brazilian market, where there is an increasing interest in natural products.

With completion of definitive agreements, Amyris plans to introduce Biossance The Revitalizer, its skin moisturizer, to Brazil by the end of 2015.

Amyris also intends to introduce five Biossance products through 2016 and a haircare range by the end of 2016.

With this memorandum of understanding, Amyris would have access to Contém 1G’s retail sales outlets for its exclusive skincare product line. Besides, this deal will provide Amyris with access to manufacturing and cosmetic-development facilities and capabilities of Contém 1G.

Amyris personal care senior vice president Caroline Hadfield said: "This is a significant step for our Biossance brand where we see an opportunity for sales to Contém 1G in the range of $8 million to $12 million in the first year of the relationship, as well as a rapid expansion of the brand in a ‘direct to consumer’ sales model where consumers can try and buy our product immediately.

"After the initial launch of our first product, Biossance The Revitalizer, on our branded website (www.biossance.com), this agreement marks our first step toward growing retail sales and distribution channels for Biossance with companies like Contém 1G, which enjoy leading positions in the markets they serve."