Biocore is a blend of enzymes designed to make whey and soy protein products more digestible and as such better absorbed by the body. Wedar will promote NEC's line at the upcoming CPhI tradeshow in Shanghai.

This is not the first partnership for the two companies, as NEC has launched other lines in the booming markets of China and Taiwan.

"Their strong technical support capability is extremely important when introducing a novel ingredient into China's very regulated market," said Kevin Hu, president of Wedar Biotechnology.

"NEC's quality and service are outstanding and we have chosen to work with NEC so we can offer this same quality and excellent service to our Chinese customers."

China is the place to be for nutraceutical companies. The Freedonia Group estimated in a recent report that the global industry will likely do a volte-face by 2015, by when Chinese demand is predicted to grow by 10.2 percent annually to $3800m.

Wedar began distributing NEC's Nattozimes to the Chinese food and nutraceutical markets in 2005.

NEC has a long history of manufacturing nutritional enzymes for a wide range of applications from sports nutrition to therapeutic goods.

Taiwanese Wedar Biotechnology is an international nutraceutical ingredient supplier.