A London-based company behind an “anti-ageing” collagen supplement loses a tax dispute after arguing its products should be classified as health food. The case concerns Minerva Research Labs Ltd, founded by entrepreneur Tony Sanguinetti in 2009.
Multiple outlets report that the dispute involves a tax bill of £3.6 million. The company’s position is that its products fall within a category that would result in different tax treatment, according to the reporting. The outcome indicates the company’s argument does not succeed and the tax liability stands.
Coverage focuses on the company’s marketing and endorsement, noting that the brand is linked to public figures such as Charlotte Hawkins and Dame Denise Lewis. However, while different outlets emphasize the endorsements or the company’s product framing, they converge on the central point: the tax authority’s assessment is upheld and the company is unsuccessful in its appeal or challenge.
