Kunak Lipids Brings Sabah's Tocotrienols To The World Stage At Vitafoods Asia
By Kenny Teng Khoon Hock
BANGKOK, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- When the doors opened at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok for Vitafoods Asia, the annual gathering of the nutraceutical world, one booth had stood out with Malaysia and Sabah’s names proudly emblazoned across its banner.
Kunak Lipids Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Sawit Kinabalu Sdn Bhd, made its debut at the event which was held on Sept 17-19, showcasing its diverse range of tocotrienol-based innovations.
For years, tocotrienols -- members of the vitamin E family -- have remained in the shadow of their more widely known counterpart, tocopherols.
Kunak Lipids is aiming to change that narrative by transforming this underappreciated antioxidant into a mainstream health product, with offerings ranging from capsules and powders, energy bars, chocolate flake cookies, and even orally disintegrating films (ODF) that dissolve on the tongue.
Leading the Sabah team was Datin Stella Ambrose, who, together with the marketing group, engaged visitors and potential collaborators keen to learn about Malaysia’s approach to nutraceutical innovation.
“We didn’t just want to come with a single supplement. Our goal is to show how tocotrienols can be part of daily living—from a snack with your coffee to a convenient film strip before a workout,” she told Bernama.
Kunak Lipids brought the concept to life at its booth—softgel supplements for the classic nutraceutical market, and cookies and energy bars for a new generation of health-conscious consumers.
“The ODF strips -- thin, dissolving sheets infused with tocotrienols -- were perhaps the most futuristic, representing a convergence of pharmaceutical precision and consumer convenience,” she added.
Vitafoods Asia is one of the leading trade events for the nutraceutical industry, providing a platform for professionals in the health and nutrition sectors to connect, innovate and conduct business.
During the exhibition, Ambrose said a Singapore-based pharmaceutical company with a strong presence across Asian nutraceutical markets had inked a Letter of Intent (LOI) to begin purchasing Kunak Lipids’ natural tocotrienols starting in January 2026.
“At the same time, an international distributor renowned for promoting sustainable tocotrienols is preparing to bring Kunak Lipids’ products onto the global stage in the coming months, amplifying Sabah’s presence in the health and wellness industry.
“For an industry built on credibility, evidence and networking, gaining visibility on the exhibition floor is often the first step towards greater opportunities. Buyers, formulators and distributors had stopped by to learn about the science behind tocotrienols and how they could be integrated into new product lines,” she said.
Ambrose noted that what distinguishes Kunak Lipids is its origin story in Sabah, where transforming agricultural by-products into high-value ingredients has become a cornerstone of sustainable innovation.
She said that by taking oil palm-derived tocotrienols and giving them global relevance, the company is helping position Malaysia on the international nutraceutical map.
For Kunak Lipids, Vitafoods Asia was more than just an exhibition—it was a declaration of intent: to reimagine a humble molecule into formats that resonate with modern consumers, and to place a Sabah-born company alongside the world’s leading ingredient manufacturers.
-- BERNAMA