Impilovest subsidiary Afriplex has been a pioneer in fusing cannabis with other African botanicals to create products for the South Africa market. Recently it announced a new CBD extraction technology and plans to develop a CBG processing facility in Canada.

Now it is launching a new portfolio of African health products under the AfriTaste brand.

Afriplex founder and CEO Danie Nel says the new brand is part of Afriplex’s “renewed focus to become a market leader in the food and beverage industry by providing unique, health-supporting and multisensorial ingredients to food and beverage manufacturing companies”.

So what does this actually mean?

Nel says “AfriTaste offers a wide variety of product solutions including enhancing sweetness and mouthfeel, masking bitterness or added functionality. Advanced processing methods are used to manufacture botanical products that are suitable for various applications such as beverages, dairy, baked goods, and confectionery. These botanical ingredients offer functionality, taste and colour to formulations whilst being fully soluble and stable during processing conditions". Latest developments include refreshing functional beverages based on plant extracts and fortified with vitamins and minerals. There is also a range of beverages for mood enhancement, energy, calming and stress relief which has successfully been launched into the market. Furthermore, vegan cheeses, sugar free energy drinks, iced teas, rehydration drinks and non-alcoholic beer and gin form part of our extensive portfolio.

Does cannabis fit in, and if so how and where?

Nel says “Afriplex stands as the cornerstone of our ImpiloVest business. It the longest operating business in our stable and we are proud to announce that it has recently secured its Category A medical manufacturing licence. This milestone will now allow for our to truly attack the local and international cannabis markets. Afriplex as well as its off-shoot, Afritaste, can now offer unique Cannabis based health solutions for markets around the world”

Impilovest Business Development Director, Paul Nunes, says that Afriplex is already established as a specialist botanicals manufacturer for third parties, notably CBD distributor Releaf and Kalyx Wellness, which are part of the group’s stable.  Releaf Pharmaceuticals through its Releaf Cannabis Clinics platform offers access to medical cannabis for patients suffering from numerous ailments. 

ReThink CBD, which is a brand within the Kalyx Wellness business, is currently the leading CBD brand within the South African market. The business has aspirations to grow into international markets over the next 12 months.

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