SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--()--Solazyme, Inc., the leading industrial biotechnology company producing renewable oil and bioproducts from microalgae, has signed agreements with leading beauty retailer Sephora® and leading global multimedia retailer QVC® to launch Algenist™, Solazyme’s microalgae-based prestige anti-aging skincare line, in the U.S. and internationally. Beginning in March 2011, Algenist will be available on QVC in the U.S. and in over 800 Sephora stores in seven countries throughout Europe and in the US before expanding to Asia and the Middle East. Sephora and QVC will align their powerful promotional efforts behind Algenist in an unprecedented launch.
“We are constantly looking for the latest groundbreaking products to debut to our beauty customer who is both an early adopter and a beauty enthusiast. Algenist is the perfect addition to our growing assortment of premium beauty products.”
Algenist is a line of advanced anti-aging skincare products formulated with Solazyme’s breakthrough ingredient, alguronic acid. Solazyme’s biotechnology scientists unexpectedly discovered alguronic acid, a true breakthrough in the anti-aging market, after studying thousands of microalgae strains for renewable energy solutions. When researched for potential anti-aging benefits, alguronic acid demonstrated significant rejuvenating properties.
“Sephora and QVC both have reputations for providing some of the most advanced skin care products in the world to consumers,” said Frederic Stoeckel, General Manager of Solazyme Health Sciences. “Since we share their commitment to delivering ground-breaking, high-value innovations, it was a natural step for us to team up.”
“Solazyme’s pioneering work in producing unique microalgae ingredients from its biotechnology platform is extremely promising. Algenist is an innovative addition to our skincare assortment and one that we are confident will be very well received by the discerning customers that visit Sephora stores in Europe,” said Rachel Marouani, SVP Marketing and E-Commerce General Manager of Sephora Europe, Middle East, and Asia. Added Sharon Rothstein, SVP Marketing of Sephora US, “At Sephora, we are relentless in our search for unique and creative product offerings to redefine the beauty landscape. Algenist is this and more, and we are thrilled to be launching the line exclusively at retail and in conjunction with QVC. We have found that availability of a product in Sephora stores and on QVC is a powerful synergy that strengthens both parties’ sales, and we believe that Algenist represents an exciting opportunity to heighten our relationship.”
“QVC is thrilled to join forces with Sephora to launch such an innovative skincare line,” said Allen Burke, QVC’s senior advisor of beauty strategy and development. “We are constantly looking for the latest groundbreaking products to debut to our beauty customer who is both an early adopter and a beauty enthusiast. Algenist is the perfect addition to our growing assortment of premium beauty products.”
The line will launch with four initial product offerings featuring the advanced anti-aging ingredient alguronic acid. The Algenist Concentrated Serum minimizes the look of wrinkles and boosts skin radiance. The Algenist Anti-Aging Moisturizer and Anti-Aging Moisturizer with SPF 20 nourish and moisturize skin, improve firmness, and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Lastly, the Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm firms skin while minimizing the appearance of fine lines around the eye area.
About Solazyme:
Solazyme, Inc. is a renewable oil and bioproducts company and the leader in microalgae-based biotechnology. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in South San Francisco, Solazyme's unique technology encourages algae to produce oil and other microalgae-based compounds quickly, efficiently, and at large scale. These oils and bioproducts are tailored not only for biofuel production, but also as replacements for fossil petroleum and plant oils in a diverse range of products running from clean fuels and chemicals to cosmetics and foods. Across these diverse product categories Solazyme is committed to creating solutions that offer a clear competitive advantage over existing technologies. Solazyme's investors among others include Braemar Energy Ventures, Harris & Harris Group, Lightspeed VenturePartners, The Roda Group, VantagePoint Venture Partners, and Zygote Ventures. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.solazyme.com
About Sephora Europe:
A unique concept that keeps on reinventing the desire to live beauty since 1970 and that was acquired in 1997 by Paris-based LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world's leading luxury products group. SEPHORA excels at finding creative brands, highlighting trends, shaping aesthetic codes and administering tailor-made advice. It offers freedom to stroll, feel, and experiment. It stimulates emotion by initiating the pleasure of learning, combined with the discovery of a unique shopping experience. With its original products, innovative services and daring communication, Sephora constantly celebrates audacity whilst paving the way for modernity. SEPHORA has more than 1400 points of sales across the world (675 stores across Europe including corners within El Corte Ingles stores in Spain, 123 stores through Ile de Beauté network in Russia, 18 stores in Middle East, 6 in South Asia and 97 in China). For Further information, please visit www.sephora.fr
About Sephora Americas
Launched in the U.S. in 1998, Sephora Americas today operates more than 270 stores in the U.S. and Canada as well as the world’s top beauty website, Sephora.com. In 2010 Sephora expanded into Latin America where it operates the Brazilian beauty market leader Sacks.com, and plans to open retail stores in Mexico beginning in 2011. Sephora is well known for its unique retail concept, which is rooted in its distinctive store design, the beauty expertise of its sales consultants and, most importantly, its unparalleled combination of over 200 classic and emerging brands across a broad range of product categories including skincare, color, fragrance, bath & body, smilecare, and haircare, as well as Sephora's own private label. In addition to its North and Latin American business, Sephora has an initiative with JCPenney, which includes more than 230 Sephora inside JCPenney locations. For further information, please visit www.sephora.com
About QVC
QVC, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the Liberty Interactive Group (Nasdaq: LINTA), is one of the largest multimedia retailers in the world. QVC is committed to providing its customers with thousands of the most innovative and contemporary beauty, fashion, jewelry and home products. Its programming is distributed to approximately 195 million homes worldwide. The company’s website, QVC.com, is ranked among the top general merchant Internet sites. With operations in the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and Italy, West Chester, Pa.-based QVC has shipped more than a billion packages in its 24-year history. QVC, Q, and the Q Ribbon Logo are registered service marks of ER Marks, Inc.
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