What Blis Technologies does

Blis Technologies Limited is a New Zealand-headquartered, NZX-listed (BLT) biotechnology company founded in 2000 by Professor Emeritus John Tagg of the University of Otago to commercialise proprietary oral and skin probiotic strains. The company's core technology centres on three native, clinically validated strains — BLIS K12 (Streptococcus salivarius K12), BLIS M18 (Streptococcus salivarius M18), and BLIS Q24 (Micrococcus luteus Q24) — which produce Bacteriocin-Like Inhibitory Substances (BLIS), natural antimicrobial peptides that actively inhibit pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity and on the skin rather than simply crowding them out. Around this strain IP the company operates a tiered B2B platform supplying freeze-dried bulk probiotic powder ingredients, custom R&D and formulation services, a Private Label programme with customisable packaging, and its own finished goods (ThroatGuard, FreshBreath, ToothGuard, UltraBLIS, DailyDefence, HoneyBlis, TravelDefence). It also licenses BLIS Q24 into premium skincare (e.g., Emma Lewisham's Supernatural Blemish Serum).

The commercial model is multi-channel: a sales-led B2B motion targeting global supplement, oral care, skincare, and pet nutrition brand owners; OEM/private-label embedding of strains into partner brands; exclusive regional distribution agreements with strategic partners (most notably Probi AB, a Swedish probiotics company that is also a strategic shareholder, alongside Bluestone Pharma in Switzerland, Tradepia in Japan, SA Pharmachem in India, and a Chinese distributor appointed in November 2024); event-driven demand generation through major industry tradeshows; and a small DTC e-commerce line via blisprobiotics.co.nz and Amazon. Revenue is generated through bulk ingredient sales, private-label manufacturing, licensing royalties, exclusive distribution fees, DTC finished-goods sales, and custom R&D/formulation services. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with multi-year contracts.

Blis Technologies holds a category-leading evidence base of more than 110 peer-reviewed publications and 40+ clinical trials across its strains, multi-jurisdictional regulatory approvals (US FDA GRAS/Letter of No Objection, Health Canada, Australian TGA, India), and a broad trademark portfolio. Manufacturing, R&D, fermentation scale-up, blending, blistering, and packing are all conducted at the company's Dunedin headquarters, which houses the first My Green Lab 'Green' certified science laboratory in New Zealand.

Name

Blis Technologies

Legal name

Blis Technologies Limited

Website

https://blis.co.nz

Company type

Public

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Blis Technologies Limited is a New Zealand-based, NZX-listed biotech that develops and supplies proprietary oral and skin probiotic strains (BLIS K12, M18, Q24) as B2B ingredients, private-label products, and licensed skincare to global supplement, oral care, and pet health brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Oral Probiotic Ingredients

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Probiotics (Human & Animal Strains, Spore-Formers, Synbiotic Bases) (AFAJAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Probiotics & Digestive Health Supplements (CRADAGAF)

Keywords

• Oral probiotic strains
• Probiotic ingredient supply
• Private label probiotics
• Probiotic contract manufacturing
• Microbiome R&D services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dunedin

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. B2B ingredient sales: Sells freeze-dried bulk probiotic powder of patented BLIS K12 and BLIS M18 strains (and BLIS Q24 for skincare) to supplement, functional food, oral care and pet nutrition brands globally, with a 24-month shelf life, GRAS status and rigorous QC testing throughout manufacturing.
2. Private label and white-label finished goods: Manufactures ready-to-go probiotic lozenges (BLIS K12 Immune Lozenge, Fresh Breath Lozenge, BLIS M18 Teeth & Gums Lozenge) that partners can rebrand under their own label, including artwork customisation and full packaging/fulfilment.
3. Licensing royalties: Licences proprietary strains to brand owners (e.g., exclusive license to Emma Lewisham for Supernatural Blemish Serum containing BLIS Q24, sold via Harrods, Selfridges and Liberty) and to skincare/cosmetics partners using BLIS Q24.
4. Exclusive distribution agreements: Regional exclusive distribution deals for BLIS K12 and BLIS M18 in human and pet health — e.g., renewed Probi agreement covering the US, Canada and select EMEA markets — and agreements with Bluestone Pharma (Switzerland), Tradepia (Japan) and SA Pharmachem (India).
5. Direct-to-consumer e-commerce (BLIS Probiotics consumer brand): Sells finished goods to end consumers via the dedicated blisprobiotics.co.nz storefront and Amazon, including ThroatGuard, FreshBreath, TravelDefence, DailyDefence, HoneyBlis and UltraBLIS SKUs.
6. Custom R&D and formulation services: Fee-based formulation customisation, in vivo and in vitro studies, stability testing and specs/data sheet documentation provided by in-house scientists, microbiologists and formulators to B2B partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Core offering

Blis Technologies develops and supplies three proprietary, clinically validated probiotic strains — BLIS K12, BLIS M18 and BLIS Q24 — as freeze-dried bulk ingredients to B2B brand owners in the supplement, oral care, pet nutrition and skincare sectors. Around this strain portfolio the company offers tiered commercial services including custom R&D and formulation work, a Private Label programme with customisable finished lozenges (Immune, Fresh Breath, Teeth & Gums), and licensing of its strains for partner-branded products such as Emma Lewisham's Supernatural Blemish Serum.

Product overview

Blis Technologies operates a single, unified probiotic platform centred on three proprietary, clinically validated bacterial strains — BLIS K12™ (Streptococcus salivarius K12) for throat, ENT, immune and breath health; BLIS M18™ (Streptococcus salivarius M18) for dental health (teeth and gums); and BLIS Q24™ (Micrococcus luteus Q24) for skin health. Around this core strain portfolio the company offers a tiered commercial architecture: (1) bulk freeze-dried probiotic powder ingredients supplied B2B under the Ingredients programme; (2) custom R&D and formulation services for partners; (3) a Private Label programme with customisable artwork, manufacturing, packing, and delivery; and (4) ready-to-market finished goods including the BLIS K12™ Immune Lozenge, BLIS K12™ Fresh Breath Lozenge, BLIS M18™ Teeth & Gums Lozenge, and UltraBLIS (a combined oral/gut product). The skin-health strain BLIS Q24™ is also deployed in partner-licensed skincare such as the Supernatural Blemish Serum under Emma Lewisham. The portfolio targets human oral, immune, dental, and skin health, plus canine pet oral health applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BLIS K12™: Proprietary Streptococcus salivarius K12 probiotic strain brand used for throat/ENT health, immune health, and fresh breath applications. Trademarks include ThroatGuard, FreshBreath, HoneyBlis, DailyDefence.
• BLIS M18™
• BLIS Q24™
• ThroatGuard / ThroatGuard Pro
• ToothGuard
• FreshBreath
• HoneyBlis
• UltraBLIS
• DailyDefence
• TravelDefence

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% reduction in infection rate in children using BLIS K12 for a minimum of 90 days
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship/strategic, core and minor.

• Probiflagship/strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 October 2025Renewed exclusive distribution agreement for BLIS K12 and BLIS M18 in the US, Canada and select EMEA markets for both human and pet health. Original strategic partnership and investment dates back to 2021 when Probi acquired a stake in Blis Technologies. Probi CEO Anita Johansen also sits on the Blis Technologies Board.
• Chinese DistributorcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 November 2024Partnership announced 15 November 2024 with a Chinese distributor for BLIS Probiotics to expand commercial reach into China, complementing the Tmall Flagship Store launch (2021) and exclusive cross-border eCommerce service provider appointment (2020).
• Bluestone PharmacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss-based company offering turnkey solutions for innovative oral probiotic concepts in the market. Patent dispute between BLIS and BSP was settled in July 2025 with a new 5-year agreement.
• TradepiacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJapan-based importer/exporter of raw materials for health supplements and related products, distributing BLIS probiotic strains into the Japanese market.
• SA PharmachemcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndia-based distributor serving the industry with innovative Food, Nutraceutical and Pharma ingredients; supports BLIS Technologies' entry into the Indian nutraceutical and pharma market.
• Emma Lewishamflagship/strategicOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerAuckland-based premium skincare brand with an exclusive license to use BLIS Q24 in the Supernatural Blemish Serum. The serum contains 350 million active probiotics per application, is stable at room temperature for two years, and is sold at Harrods, Selfridges and Liberty in London. Fermentation and formulation challenges were solved in partnership with the Biotechnologies Group / Callaghan Innovation.
• Biotechnologies Group (Callaghan Innovation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Biotechnologies Group at Callaghan Innovation to solve fermentation and formulation challenges for the skin-specific BLIS Q24 probiotic strain, enabling commercial-scale production of the live probiotic skincare ingredient. Callaghan Innovation also granted an earlier grant to Blis Technologies in 2018.
• Stratum NutritioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on studies supporting BLIS K12 probiotic strain and its oral hygiene benefits in children. Joint research and clinical study collaboration referenced on the Scientific Collaboration page.
• University of Otago (and other universities)flagship/strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing academic research collaboration with the University of Otago Microbiology department (where Professor John Tagg discovered BLIS K12), and leading universities globally on joint research projects, clinical trials and academic partnerships.
• MUFG Corporate MarketsminorOthersBLIS Technologies' share registrar and provider of virtual meeting / online portal services for shareholder meetings.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Stratum Nutrition: US-based ingredient supplier that partners with BLIS on K12 research and distributes oral probiotic ingredients to North American supplement brands. Comparable as a niche oral probiotic ingredient peer with a regional commercial footprint.
• Skinbiotherapeutics: UK-listed skin microbiome company developing probiotic-based skincare for conditions like acne and eczema. Comparable to BLIS's BLIS Q24 skincare platform as a focused skin-microbiome therapeutics/cosmetics peer, though earlier stage and narrower pipeline.

Broad incumbents

• Yakult Honsha: Japanese probiotics multinational best known for its Lactobacillus casei Shirota dairy drinks, but also active in oral probiotic R&D. Comparable in probiotic consumer brand-building and global distribution, though gut-focused rather than oral-native.
• DANONE (Nutricia): Global consumer health and probiotics major (Actimel, Activia, Nutricia). Overlaps with BLIS in finished probiotic consumer products and gut/oral health; far broader portfolio, but increasingly relevant as a competitor in DTC probiotic formats.
• ADM (Biopolis / Protexin): Global nutrition major that acquired Protexin (oral and gut probiotic brands including Bio-Kult) and Biopolis. Comparable B2B probiotic ingredient capabilities plus finished consumer brands; competing with BLIS across multiple geographies.
• Chr. Hansen (now Novonesis): Global probiotics leader offering a broad strain portfolio across gut, immune, oral and infant health via B2B ingredient sales. Overlapping as a competing probiotic supplier to BLIS's B2B customers, but with much broader scope and scale across multiple health categories.

Direct peers

• Winclove Probiotics: Dutch probiotic ingredient company developing multi-strain formulations for specific health indications (oral, gut, women's health, immune), sold B2B to supplement brands in Europe and globally. Closely comparable B2B ingredient business with proprietary strain IP.
• Lallemand Health Solutions: Canadian-headquartered probiotic ingredient manufacturer offering proprietary bacterial strains for human health and nutrition B2B. Directly comparable to BLIS's ingredient business model and target customer base of supplement brands.
• BioGaia: Swedish probiotics company developing proprietary Lactobacillus strains for oral, gut, and immune health, sold both as B2B ingredients and finished consumer brands. Comparable business model (strain IP, clinical evidence, distributor partnerships) and overlapping oral health focus.
• Probi AB: Swedish probiotics specialist and BLIS's largest distribution partner and strategic shareholder. Overlap is direct: both develop and commercialise clinically validated probiotic strains for human and pet health via B2B and B2C channels, making Probi both a peer and a channel.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blis-technology-limited
• Facebookfacebook.com/BLISTechnologies
• Instagraminstagram.com/blistechnologies
• Xx.com/blistech

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Blis Technologies