In 2025, Riga-based food supplement manufacturer BF-ESSE was nominated for the Riga Business award 2025 in the Life Sciences category. The nomination reflects Riga’s growing role as a location for high-value, export-oriented manufacturing and applied research within regulated health and wellness industries.
BF-ESSE operates as a contract manufacturing organization (CMO), specializing in the contract manufacturing of white and private label food supplements. The company combines certified industrial production with in-house research, formulation expertise, and an export-oriented business model, supporting European and international brands throughout the product lifecycle.
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Integrated manufacturing and certified production capabilities
BF-ESSE provides full-cycle manufacturing services, covering formulation development, R&D validation, industrial production, and export-ready packaging.
The company’s production infrastructure includes:
- Two capsule production lines
- Two sachet production lines
- One tablet production line
- One powder blending and packaging line
- Liquid and syrup production lines currently in the final stage of development
All manufacturing and development activities operate within a fully certified quality framework, including ISO 22000, ISO 9001, and HACCP systems, ensuring food safety, traceability, and process consistency across all production stages.
In addition, BF-ESSE holds BIO / Organic certification, enabling the production of organic food supplements in accordance with EU organic regulations and supporting clean-label and premium product positioning.
In-house R&D laboratory and formulation science
A defining element of BF-ESSE’s operating model is its in-house R&D laboratory, closely integrated with manufacturing processes.
The laboratory focuses on applied formulation development, including:
- Protein-based formulations
- Electrolyte systems and functional hydration blends
- Flavor development and sensory optimization
- Natural color systems and formulation stability
- Ingredient interaction, solubility, and performance testing
This applied research capability allows BF-ESSE to optimize complex formulations — including mineral- and salt-based products — improving palatability and consumer acceptance while maintaining full compliance with EU regulatory and quality standards.
Proprietary products and market validation
Alongside contract manufacturing activities, BF-ESSE manages a portfolio of 44 proprietary food supplement products, developed and manufactured in-house. These products are currently available on retail shelves in Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, and Spain, providing real-market validation of formulation stability, regulatory readiness, and scalable production.
In parallel, the company has developed over 150 custom formulations for external partners, including more than 100 white label solutions, supporting brands at various stages of market entry and international expansion.
BF-ESSE’s proprietary food supplement brands generate low seven-figure annual revenue, supported by consistent retail presence across several EU markets.
Export orientation and international reach
BF-ESSE operates with a strong export focus. Current export markets include Lithuania, Estonia, Azerbaijan, Kosovo, Spain, Slovenia, Romania, Austria, the United Kingdom, and Germany, with Finland and Norway in preparation.
Latvia’s geographic location, combined with EU regulatory alignment and efficient logistics infrastructure, enables the company to serve both EU and non-EU markets from its Riga base.
Growth and contribution to Riga’s life sciences ecosystem
Between 2024 and 2025, BF-ESSE entered a phase of structural growth across both its contract manufacturing operations and proprietary product portfolio. Contract manufacturing activity expanded significantly, with production scaling from dozens of batches annually to several hundred production runs, reflecting growing demand for certified white and private label food supplement manufacturing.
For the current year, BF-ESSE forecasts continued expansion of its contract manufacturing business, supported by increased production capacity, additional dosage forms, and sustained interest from European partners.
This development is driven by a specialized team of 14 professionals, spanning production, quality assurance, research, and operations.
Supporting Riga’s life sciences and manufacturing landscape
By combining certified manufacturing systems, in-house R&D capabilities, and organic production expertise, BF-ESSE contributes to Riga’s positioning as a competitive hub for life sciences and regulated food supplement manufacturing.
The company’s development demonstrates how Riga-based enterprises can successfully scale regulated, export-oriented production while supporting innovation, employment, and international competitiveness within the European health and wellness sector.