3 questions for Arnaud TERNINCK, Development Manager, COPALIS
Every month, our adherents answer our questions and present their activity as part of the "3 questions to." This month, Arnaud Terninck from Copalis answers us.
What is the nature of your business?
The enhancement of the local marine resource initiated in 1960 by visionary members of the Boulogne-sur-Mer fishing industry lays the foundations for the mission of the Cooperative for the Processing of Fishery Products, COPALIS (formerly CTPP).
If the material taken over by COPALIS constituted waste before the implementation of this recovery, it is by-products and co-products which are now involved. Historically a producer of flour, COPALIS developed in 1968 a patented process for the production of hydrolyzed fish proteins called CPSP®, intended for the nutrition of young animals and for which the cooperative remains the world leader.
With this unique experience in enzymatic hydrolysis techniques, COPALIS diversifies with the production of cosmetic ingredients and innovative nutritional ingredients: marine cartilage in powder form for the fight against joint pain, collagen for the beauty of skin, marine peptides regulating the glycemic index, antihypertensive drugs, etc.
For whom are your products/services intended?
Being on BtoB markets, our marine ingredients are intended to be transformed / formulated into finished products such as:
-Foods for animal nutrition: mainly for petfood and aquaculture, our famous CPSP® is recognized for its ability to naturally stimulate the growth and immune defenses of farmed fish.
- Food supplements: marketed in different forms (capsule, capsule, drink, etc.), our ingredients are used by manufacturers of para-pharmaceutical nutritional supplements.
- Cosmetic products: cream, serum, skincare, etc. with hydrating, toning, regenerating or anti-aging properties.
- Products processed by the food industry: ready meals, soups, sauces ... COPALIS exports nearly 75% of its production of ingredients to North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia , or Australia.
In what way are innovation and research important for your sector of business?
The treatment of fish waste ... the image is not a priori the most attractive nor the most rewarding. However, behind a reputation as a “breulles factory”, as some Boulonnais elders still call it, hiding from its origins a cooperative with economic and environmental roles essential for its territory by the outlets it offers and a growing business. ; a company that the constant ambition of innovations with high added value and respectful of maritime resources, has greatly contributed to perpetuate and develop, for almost 60 years.
The dynamism of COPALIS and its ability to innovate and invest in research have been supported by a close partnership with the AQUIMER competitiveness cluster for 13 years now. In total, we participated in 11 projects labeled by the cluster.
The latest is the Pepseanov collaborative research program which has enabled us to develop innovative ingredients from local fishing by-products to target nutrition markets, particularly in the area of stress, to integrate the formulation of food supplements and veterinarians relaxing and anti-stress.
In order to remain competitive in increasingly competitive markets and maintain our leadership position, innovation and research are real key success factors in the growth and value of our activity.
