Grape King spurs biotechnology with research and development

Early success in health tonics led Grape King to recognise the biotechnology wave long before it became a multibillion-dollar global industry.

Four decades into the business, the company came full circle with the 2011 Taipei Biotech Award for its role in commercialising the traditional Chinese medicine Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium - a fungus derived from the Taiwanese bull camphor tree renowned for its rarity and wide-ranging health benefits.

With medical research determining Antrodia's huge potential to fight cancer, Grape King is headed to a bigger role on the global stage.

The company is a household name in Taiwan for Come Best, a popular energy drink that has been around for 43 years. Its market-leading "Ganoderma King" capsule made from Ganoderma lucidum has been qualified by the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration with a health claim that supports the immune system. Operating as a certified pharmaceutical manufacturer since 1987, Grape King also has a solid niche in China's contract manufacturing industry for functional foods, health supplements and biological pesticides. Combining the vision of Tseng Shui-chao, Grape King's founder who is also company chairman, and the scientific know-how of vice-president Chen Chin-chu, Grape King has a 20-year head start on the research and commercialisation of probiotics and medicinal mushrooms. The company established the Grape King Bioengineering Centre in 1991 with Chen at the helm.

Launching the world's first Antrodia commercial product in 1999, Grape King has worked closely with Taiwan's government, academic and research institutions to unlock the full potential of Antrodia as a national brand. Its bioengineering centre is the world's largest and most advanced production facility for Antrodia mycelium.

Distinguished for its comprehensive capabilities, Grape King was also awarded the 2011 National Industrial Innovation Award by Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs, among six citations from various institutions last year. An expert in research and development, ingredient generation, manufacturing engineering and quality control, Grape King specialises in lactic acid bacteria, mushroom mycelia fermentation services and other customised fermentation services. Its overall production capacity is 227 tonnes, with automated lines for bottled drinks, capsules, tablets and powders.