NBJ Award 2023: Management Achievement

This article originally appeared in the Nutrition Business Journal Awards Issue.

Six hundred employees across 35 countries around the globe. Eight manufacturing plants and research facilities with quality control at the highest standards. Eighty-six patents and counting.

These are the metrics of a winner, and TSI Group, the contract manufacturer and ingredient supplier celebrating more than 25 years of success in the dietary supplement industry, is just that. As co-founder, Larry Kolb has been a careful steward of this growth as TSI matured right alongside the industry itself, advocating for and navigating through the game-changers of DSHEA and cGMPs. With his business partner, CEO Joe Zhou, and a top team of executive talent, TSI has emerged as a leading voice in delivering quality and innovation throughout the supplement industry’s supply chain.

Kolb serves as TSI’s Global President of Innovative Ingredients, and in that role, TSI’s ingredient mix continues to impress. With heavy hitters in active nutrition and muscle health, like Peak ATP and myHMB, to emerging stars in energy and longevity, like Hobamine and Enfinity, TSI’s ingredient game is on trend and on point. These are innovative solutions that are well supported by clinical research and successful in the marketplace. For this skillful development of an enviable ingredient portfolio that sets the standard for industry excellence, New Hope Network's Nutrition Business Journal is pleased to award Larry Kolb of TSI with this year’s Management Achievement Award.

Related:NBJ Award 2023: Leadership and Growth

Of MTI and HMB

Kolb’s success with TSI’s ingredient roster owes a fair nod to the beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate molecule better known as HMB. Metabolic Technologies (MTI) discovered HMB, and through a strategic partnership dating back to 2011, TSI has developed the ingredient under the brand myHMB to successful adoption in sports nutrition, recovery, body composition and emerging applications in muscle health and aging.

After years in market, myHMB is now supported by dozens of clinical trials that demonstrate its ability to build muscle and strength and also preserve muscle through the aging process and sarcopenia. In recent years, Kolb and his team have doubled down, with significant new investment in the ingredient to broaden awareness for muscle health as a key component of healthy aging and longevity.

What began as a strategic partnership became something more, as TSI acquired MTI outright in 2019. The deal brought MTI’s research capabilities and proven track record at discovering new molecules in house, along with the launch of a promising new ingredient—2-HOBA, branded as Hobamine—just a year later. “The acquisition of Metabolic Technologies had a major impact for us,” says Kolb. He includes the license of Hobamine, from Vanderbilt University and the research team under Dr. Naji Abumrad, as a deal highlight, alongside the ongoing research into myHMB, like the year-long NIH-funded study on myHMB in combination with vitamin D to show benefits in muscle health for elderly, sedentary populations.

Related:NBJ Awards 2023 sharpen the focus on good works and big successes

Expanding the portfolio 

But the TSI story is much larger than myHMB. The aforementioned Hobamine is making waves as a foundational player in cellular function, inflammation and oxidative stress with product introductions from such forward-leaning brands as Science Research Wellness and Dr. Jeffrey Bland’s Big Bold Health.

“Hobamine is also a very large event for us in terms of its long-term health possibilities,” says Kolb. “It has tremendous potential for immune, anti-inflammation and oxidative-stress management, and overall cellular health.” TSI highlighted Hobamine at this spring’s Vitafoods Europe event alongside Enfinity, a branded paraxanthine for energy. “Our recent exclusive global licensing of Enfinity has also really moved the needle,” says Kolb. “This is one of the hottest innovations in the industry that I can remember in recent times.” The ingredient portfolio at TSI also includes a vegan glucosamine called GlucosaGreen, with a growing list of certifications for sustainability.

Innovations abound at TSI, and format solutions under the FZZR brand—effervescent granules, melts and mints—and STRW as a straw delivery system are also making waves. With these compliance-boosting tools in its toolshed, alongside weight management winners like myHMB, the company is rapidly developing tailored solutions for the rising tide of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic. As more and more consumers find those drugs, TSI is building solutions to alleviate common side effects like gut discomfort, loss of energy and low appetite, as well as nutrient deficiencies and muscle loss.

It takes a village

When asked about the secrets to success for Kolb’s approach to management and innovation, the industry has lots of nice things to say. “Larry Kolb epitomizes the definition of ‘customer focus,’” says Bland, a previous winner of this journal’s Efforts on Behalf of Industry Award. “He always brings his full attention to connecting with people. Larry’s ability to couple personal authenticity with a deep understanding of the industry is a role model for all of us.”

Raza Bashir is the vice president of scientific affairs and product innovation at Iovate, and his connection to Kolb stretches back over many years and many innovative ingredients. “Reflecting on our relationship, which spans over a decade, it’s clear that it was built on a shared passion for outstanding ingredients backed by solid science,” says Bashir. “It all started with Peak ATP and myHMB, and now we’ve added Enfinity Paraxanthine to the mix. Introducing these innovations to the sports nutrition industry together under our MuscleTech brand fills me with immense pride. I truly believe that our mutual dedication to rigorous science and our commitment to delivering the highest-quality ingredients have been the cornerstone of our successful partnership.”

Like Bland, Bashir also points out the softer skills that make Kolb an effective manager. “Larry is an exceptional leader and collaborator,” he says. “He’s deeply committed to service and integrity, which has made working with him a pleasure. I have the utmost admiration and appreciation for him.”

And like any good leader, Kolb would spread this acknowledgment across a much wider team of executives who act as his real secrets to success. He calls out his co-founder and business partner, CEO Joe Zhou, as well as a global innovations team consisting of COO Alisan Sullivan, Marketing Manager Silvia Hodas-Ferda, Vice President of Business Development Shawn Baier and Chief Science Officer Dr. Naji Abumrad. “Establishing a capable management team is the most important secret to anyone’s success,” says Kolb, “and these individuals have been instrumental in our achievements with innovation and global branded ingredients.”

The NBJ 2024 Awards issue is available at no cost at the NBJ store. Subscribe today to the Nutrition Business Journal.