For Stratum Nutrition, industry events are about more than being present; they are an opportunity to listen, learn and strengthen the relationships that help move science-backed nutrition forward.

That was especially true at Vitafoods Asia 2026, where Stratum Nutrition was represented by Chris Haynes, Sr. Director - Global Sales; Krishnamohan Maurya, Regional Head – APAC, Arun Nair, Chief Commercial Officer; they accompanied at Stratum’s booth by Shireen Ng, General Manager – Phytonet, Singapore. The three-day event took place September 2–4, 2026, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) in Bangkok, Thailand.

Vitafoods Asia brought together nutraceutical professionals from throughout the Asia-Pacific region and around the world, creating an important platform for ingredient suppliers, manufacturers, brands and industry partners to connect, explore innovation and gain a better understanding of the trends shaping the market.

For the Stratum team, one of the biggest takeaways from Bangkok was how closely many of those conversations aligned with trends being seen across other global markets.

Science Continues to Drive the Conversation

According to Arun Nair, Chief Commercial Officer, areas including longevity, clinically backed ingredients, beauty, men’s health, and collagen were prominent throughout the event. He also described conversations with customers from Thailand, Bangladesh and India as particularly valuable, with many discussions moving beyond basic ingredient information and into deeper technical questions.

That emphasis on science was especially noticeable in conversations surrounding NEM® eggshell membrane.

For Krishnamohan Maurya, Regional Head - APAC, Vitafoods Asia 2026 marked his first time attending the event. Throughout the show, he connected with customers from markets including India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and China, providing an opportunity to better understand the needs and potential for Stratum’s ingredients across individual markets.

Several customers from Bangladesh expressed interest in developing formulations with NEM® and arrived with technical questions about the ingredient, including how eggshell membrane differs from other collagen sources available in the market.

Those conversations reinforced an important opportunity for Stratum: continuing to pair innovative ingredients with the education and scientific support, customers need to understand what makes them different.

Growing Awareness Creates New Opportunities

Vitafoods Asia provided valuable insight into how Stratum Nutrition and its ingredients are being recognized throughout the Asia-Pacific market.

Arun noted that Stratum’s emphasis on premium, science-backed, high-quality ingredients has helped establish familiarity with the company among retailers and contract development and manufacturing organizations. He identified joint health, skin health, and cognitive health as growth areas where Stratum’s portfolio can support evolving market demands.

There were encouraging signs of recognition on the consumer side as well. In Thailand, Arun saw product launches featuring NEM® and OVOLUX®, supported by social media engagement and press coverage. Stratum Nutrition also had the pleasure of contributing to a NEM® product launch during Vitafoods Asia, with members of the Stratum team joining Revomed Founder Dr. You May (@maynie_minimay) and Dr. Choice (@dr.choicethailand) for the launch. The collaboration provided another example of how Stratum’s science-backed ingredients are gaining visibility with brands, health professionals, and consumers throughout the region.

That growing regional presence led to another milestone at Vitafoods Asia. Louisa Chang, President of Toong Yeuan Enterprise Co. Ltd. (TYIG), and Chris Haynes, Stratum Nutrition’s Sr. Director - Global Sales, signed a distribution agreement at the show to open the Taiwan market.

“We are very pleased to be working with TYIG and Louisa’s team in Taiwan. They have a long history of successful business dealings in the market,” Haynes said. He described Taiwan as a critical step in Stratum’s expansion across APAC.

As Stratum expands its presence across the region, conversations at the event also showed that education remains essential to growing awareness of its ingredients. Krishnamohan heard questions about how eggshell membrane collagen compares with more familiar collagen sources, offering insight into where additional education could help customers better understand its differences. He also connected with direct-to-consumer companies seeking new skin health and beauty ingredients, creating opportunities to introduce OVOLUX® and its low-dose eggshell membrane collagen story.

Listening to a Dynamic Market

Healthy aging and longevity were among the strongest themes Krishnamohan observed during the event, alongside joint and mobility health, cognitive health, beauty-from-within, women’s health, gut health, and active nutrition. He also noted a visible emphasis on clinically researched ingredients throughout the show.

For Stratum, gaining that market intelligence is an important part of participating in international events like Vitafoods Asia.

“We come back not only with leads, but with a better understanding of where the market is moving and where Stratum Nutrition can create value,” Krishnamohan said.

Customers approached the Stratum team with different objectives depending on their respective markets. Customers from Bangladesh came prepared to discuss the science supporting Stratum’s ingredients, while customers from India were looking for innovative ingredients that could add something new to their existing product portfolios.

These conversations also provided insight into regional regulatory considerations and market-specific needs, information that can help Stratum continue developing a more focused approach throughout APAC.

More Than an Ingredient Supplier

Face-to-face conversations create opportunities for the Stratum team to better understand customers’ requirements, challenges and future development plans while demonstrating the value the company can provide beyond supplying an ingredient.

For Krishnamohan, those interactions are an important part of positioning Stratum as a scientific and development partner capable of supporting customers as they work to create differentiated products.

Arun similarly emphasized the importance of maintaining a presence at events throughout the region. Participating in Vitafoods Asia gives Stratum an opportunity to showcase its strengths, engage directly with customers, expand brand exposure, and gain a better understanding of how ingredients such as NEM® are perceived within individual markets.

That combination of science, education, relationships, and market insight is ultimately what makes events like Vitafoods Asia valuable.

As Stratum Nutrition continues strengthening its connections throughout the Asia-Pacific region, the conversations in Bangkok offered another important look at where the nutraceutical industry is headed and where Stratum’s portfolio of science-backed ingredients can help customers respond to evolving health and wellness priorities.

For Chris Haynes, Krishnamohan Maurya, and Arun Nair, Vitafoods Asia 2026 was about more than showcasing what Stratum offers today. It was an opportunity to listen to customers, better understand individual markets and continue building the relationships that can turn emerging opportunities into meaningful, sustainable growth throughout APAC.