What Novalac does

Novalac, operated by United Pharmaceuticals SAS, is a Paris-headquartered, family-owned infant formula company founded in 1991 that develops and distributes a comprehensive portfolio of nutritional products for infants and young children (0-3+ years). The portfolio spans three layers: everyday follow-on and growing-up milks (Novalac 2, Novalac 3, Novalac Junior, plus premium Symbiotic variants with prebiotics and probiotics), satiety formulas for hungry babies (Novalac S/SD), and a therapeutic dietary solutions range addressing regurgitation (thickened with fibers/cornstarch), colic, constipation (Novalac IT), diarrhea (Novalac AD, lactose-free with Saccharomyces boulardii), cow's milk allergy (extensively hydrolyzed Novalac Allernova, rice-based alternative), and severe CMA (amino-acid based formula). Novalac's technological foundation rests on specialized nutritional chemistry and a rigorous quality management system — over 700 quality controls per production cycle, ISO 9001-certified manufacturing sites in Germany and France with closed-circuit spray-drying, 24-48 hour farm-to-factory processing within 200 km, and clinical validation across more than 50 trials involving 48,000+ infants.

Novalac monetizes through wholesale product sales of its formula range, distributed via a pharmacy-centric network of independent local distributors across 60+ countries on 5 continents. Healthcare professionals — pediatricians, pharmacists, and dietitians — function as the key recommendation channel, reinforced by the company's participation in scientific congresses (ESPGHAN 2026) and peer-reviewed clinical study publication. The company positions itself in the healthcare-dimension segment of infant nutrition, competing on first-to-market therapeutic innovations, European production provenance, and clinical substantiation rather than on price or mass-market brand spend. The company reports an AAA financial rating and claims episodic 100% organic sales growth, operates a corporate social responsibility program (ISO 26000 Silver Medal, 85% RSPO-certified palm oil, 10M+ baby meals donated through NGO partnerships), and targets both parents/caregivers (end consumer) and healthcare professionals (prescriber/recommender) as its two primary customer segments.

Name

Novalac

Legal name

United Pharmaceuticals SAS

Website

https://novalac.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Novalac is a Paris-based, family-owned infant formula company (founded 1991) that develops and distributes therapeutic and everyday nutritional formulas for infants and young children through a pharmacy network in 60+ countries, serving parents and prescribing pediatricians.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Infant Formula

NAICS

Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115), Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Infant Formula & Specialized Dairy Nutrition Manufacturing (AFAKAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hypoallergenic & Allergy-Friendly Infant Formula Manufacturing (Extensively Hydrolyzed/Amino Acid) (AFAHAHAD), Specialty & Medical Infant Formula (Hypoallergenic, Lactose-Free, Metabolic) (CRADAEAB), Toddler & Pediatric Nutritional Powder Manufacturing (Milk-Based) (AFAHAHAH), Special Medical Purpose Infant Formula Manufacturing (FSMP/Medical Nutrition) (AFAHAHAC), Lactose-Free & Reduced-Lactose Infant Formula Manufacturing (AFAHAHAF)

Keywords

• Infant formula
• Baby nutrition
• Specialized formulas
• Cow milk allergy
• Gastrointestinal formulas

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Infant formula product sales: Novalac generates revenue from the sale of its infant formula products across multiple stages (0-3+ years), including everyday milk, hungry baby/satiety formulas, growing-up milk, and specialized dietary solutions for gastrointestinal disorders and allergies. Products are distributed via pharmacy networks and international distributors in 60+ countries.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Novalac manufactures and distributes a comprehensive range of infant and young child nutritional formulas, including everyday follow-on and growing-up milks, satiety formulas for hungry babies, and specialized therapeutic formulas addressing gastrointestinal disorders (regurgitation, colic, constipation, diarrhea) and cow's milk allergy. Products are produced exclusively in Germany and France under ISO 9001 standards and sold through pharmacy networks and local distributors in more than 60 countries.

Product overview

Novalac is an infant formula company offering a comprehensive nutritional product portfolio organized into three main categories: everyday milks (standard follow-on formulas for healthy infants), hunger solutions (satiety formulas for babies who need more frequent feeding), and therapeutic dietary solutions for gastrointestinal disorders and allergies. The core everyday range includes Novalac 2 and premium Symbiotic variants with prebiotics and fatty acids. The growing-up milk line covers Novalac 3 and Novalac Junior for children aged 1-3+ years. Therapeutic products address specific conditions including anti-regurgitation formulas, constipation formulas (Novalac IT), anti-diarrhea formulas (Novalac AD), extensively hydrolyzed formulas for cow's milk allergy (Novalac Allernova), and amino-acid formulas for severe allergies. The company focuses on providing healthcare benefits through nutritional management of infant digestive issues.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Novalac 2 Follow-on milk formula for infants from 6 months old as part of a diversified diet, providing calcium and vitamin D for normal growth and bone development.
• Novalac Symbiotic 2 Premium everyday milk supplemented with prebiotics (galacto-oligosaccharides), ARA and DHA for infant health and development.
• Novalac 3 Growing-up milk for children from 1 year onwards, containing calcium, vitamin D, iron, and vanilla flavor as a complement to a diversified diet.
• Novalac 3 Banana Apple Growing-up milk formula containing fruit puree with banana and apple flavors, designed to induce good eating habits early.
• Novalac 3 Symbiotic Premium growing-up milk supplemented with symbiotic formula (prebiotics GOS and probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis), DHA, and nucleotides.
• Novalac Junior Milk Milk formula for children from 3 years onwards containing calcium and iron for optimal growth of bones, teeth, muscles and brain.
• Novalac S/SD (Satiety formula) Follow-on formula for always hungry babies and/or babies waking up at night, featuring slow-digesting nutrients, casein predominant formula, sucrose free.
• Novalac Allernova (Extensively Hydrolyzed Formula) Hypoallergenic extensively hydrolyzed casein-based formula for dietary management of cow's milk allergy in formula-fed infants.
• Novalac AD (Anti-Diarrhea Formula) Lactose-free formula for management of infantile diarrhea, including rotavirus enteritis, supplemented with pectin and Saccharomyces boulardii.
• Novalac IT (Anti-Constipation Formula) Formula for management of functional constipation in infants, with high lactose and magnesium content to modify stool water content.
• Novalac Anti-Regurgitation Formula Thickened formula for management of infant regurgitation and gastroesophageal reflux, thickened with cornstarch or innovative fiber complex.
• Novalac Amino-Acid Formula (AAF) Amino-acid based formula for severe cow's milk allergy and infants who react to extensively hydrolyzed formulas.
• Novalac Rice-Based Formula Extensively hydrolyzed rice protein formula as a vegetable-based alternative for cow's milk allergy management.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 700 quality controls per production cycle ensure product safety and compliance with specifications
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Fédération Française des Banques Alimentaires (FFBA)minorOthersNovalac supports the Fédération Française des Banques Alimentaires through product donations to help distribute infant nutrition to families in need in France.
• SOS Boites de LaitminorOthersNovalac partners with SOS Boites de Lait (an Emmaus initiative) to donate infant formula to families in need.
• Fonds de Dotation France Liban (FdFL)minorOthersNovalac supports the France Lebanon Foundation through donations to provide infant nutrition support in Lebanon.
• Association Agir pour l'enfant (Haïti)minorOthersNovalac partners with Association Agir pour l'enfant to provide infant formula donations to children in Haiti.
• CaritasminorOthersNovalac collaborates with Caritas, an international Catholic humanitarian organization, to distribute infant nutrition products to families in need globally.
• Bancos de Alimentos (Spain)minorOthersNovalac partners with Bancos de Alimentos (food banks in Spain) to donate infant formula to families in need in Spain.
• La Chaine de l'EspoirminorOthersNovalac sponsors La Chaine de l'Espoir, a French NGO strengthening healthcare systems to give children equal chances of survival and development worldwide, through beautifully crafted leather products for young children.
• Le Musée du LouvreminorOthersNovalac sponsors the Musée du Louvre (Louvre Museum) as part of its arts sponsorship program, supporting cultural heritage preservation.
• Le Musée d'OrsayminorOthersNovalac sponsors the Musée d'Orsay as part of its arts sponsorship program, supporting cultural heritage preservation.
• Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNovalac purchases CSPO (Certified Sustainable Palm Oil) certified by RSPO, with 85% of the palm oil used in Novalac formulas being RSPO certified. This partnership supports sustainable palm oil production standards including protection of primary forests and respect for local community rights.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• HiPP GmbH & Co. Vertrieb KG: HiPP is one of Europe's leading organic infant formula brands with deep pharmacist/HCP endorsement and strict European manufacturing credentials — directly comparable to Novalac in positioning, pharmacy distribution, and scientific credibility among pediatricians.
• Hero Group (Hero Baby): Hero Baby is a European infant nutrition brand with a similar pharmacy/HCP-led positioning across multiple European markets, directly competing with Novalac in everyday and growing-up formula segments.

Emerging players

• Ausnutria (Kabrita): Ausnutria's Kabrita is a premium goat-milk infant formula brand with international pharmacy and HCP distribution, overlapping with Novalac's premium positioning and specialty milk intolerance/CMA franchise.
• Kendamil (Kendal Nutricare): Kendamil is a premium UK-based infant formula brand built on British farming provenance and HCP-led growth, closely mirroring Novalac's "European quality + healthcare endorsement + premium positioning" thesis as an insurgent competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Danone Nutricia: Danone's Nutricia division is the global leader in specialized/medical infant nutrition, including extensively hydrolyzed formulas (e.g., Aptamil/Pepti/Nutramigen equivalents) and a major share of the same therapeutic categories Novalac targets, but at vastly broader scale.
• Mead Johnson / Reckitt Nutrition (Enfamil): Mead Johnson, now under Reckitt, holds Enfamil and major specialty SKUs (e.g., Nutramigen for CMA), a long-standing broad incumbent in therapeutic infant formula categories targeted by Novalac.
• FrieslandCampina (Friso): FrieslandCampina is a Dutch dairy cooperative whose Friso and Dutch Lady brands compete with Novalac across standard and premium everyday milk SKUs, leveraging dairy cooperative scale across multiple markets.
• Nestlé Infant Nutrition (NAN/Gerber): Nestlé is the world's largest infant formula manufacturer with NAN and Gerber brands; a broad incumbent whose scale, marketing, and distribution advantages define the competitive ceiling in standard and even specialty SKUs.
• Abbott Nutrition (Similac): Abbott's Similac is a global mass-market infant formula player and a leader in specialized/sensitive formulas (Similac Alimentum), a major incumbent competing with Novalac in the same therapeutic niches.

Regional players

• Humana GmbH (DMK Group): Humana is a German infant formula brand sold primarily through pharmacies and HCP channels in DACH and select European markets, a regional direct competitor to Novalac in everyday and special milks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/novalac-nutrition-health
• Facebookfacebook.com/NovalacMalta

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Novalac