Behind the Creation of Herbalock® Plus: Inside the Innovation Process

 Innovating Antioxidant Solutions for Greater Performance in Baked Goods & Snacks

When we talk to customers working in baked goods and snacks, a common challenge emerges: oxidation of fats, oils, and flavors caused by high-temperature processing. The central question is, how can shelf life be extended naturally, without making formulas more difficult to manage or sacrificing taste and clean label expectations? Herbalock Plus is the result of listening carefully to these concerns and responding with an effective solution.  

We know rosemary extract already has a strong track record as a natural antioxidant. Our goal was to make it work better for today’s manufacturing realities by improving usability, consistency, and performance in finished products. 

What Herbalock Plus Is and Why It Matters 

Herbalock Plus is a free-flowing, water-dispersible powdered rosemary extract developed specifically to deliver strong antioxidant protection at low usage levels. From the beginning, we focused on creating a solution that fits easily into existing processes. It is easy to handle, easy to dose, and designed to minimize impact on flavor, color, and texture. 

For manufacturers, that translates into more reliable oxidative stability and longer shelf life without introducing production complexity. It reinforced the belief that natural solutions can be both powerful and practical. 

Innovation Through Collaboration 

We partnered with a women-led company, Sphera Encapsulation, specializing in microencapsulation technology to enhance the performance of rosemary extract in baked goods.  

Sphera Encapsulation is an Italian company fully dedicated to research and development in advanced encapsulation technologies. Based in Italy, the Sphera Encapsulation team worked with Kalsec to apply their proprietary encapsulation technology, FloraSpher™. By combining Kalsec’s expertise in natural antioxidants with advanced encapsulation know-how, we were able to close a functionality gap we saw in the market. 

A Clean Label and Sustainable Approach 

Herbalock Plus is derived from plant-based sources and formulated with naturally occurring ingredients. That simplicity matters to consumers and to our customers. Clean labels and transparency are no longer optional, and we designed this ingredient with those expectations in mind. 

Sustainability was also part of the conversation from the start. The formulation allows for precise dosing, ease of handling and reduced waste during processing. By delivering strong performance at low inclusion levels, it supports more efficient use of raw materials and helps manufacturers reduce their overall footprint. 

Where Herbalock Plus Delivers Value 

Herbalock Plus is best suited for applications that require antioxidant protection and favor dry ingredients. This includes baked goods like crackers and biscuits, savory snacks, extruded products, and dry blends. Its improved dispersibility also allows greater flexibility when liquid components are part of the formulation. 

During testing, we focused on crackers, but based on the results, we expect similar performance across a wider range of shelf-stable baked and snack applications. 

Looking Ahead 

 Herbalock^® Plus is a clear testament to Kalsec’s thought leadership—leveraging novel delivery systems to unlock the full potential of one of the most powerful natural antioxidants, even in complex food matrices. It builds on what works and offers an additional solution to manufacturers today. Better performance, easy handling, and powerful protection, all in one clean label solution.