This should answer some questions on supply.

""Timing is everything," repeated Owen, who said their contracted-out production facility in Surrey has had to add a second shift to meet the demand.""

http://www2.canada.com/newwestrecord/story.html?id=ee938870-7350-45d3-b3a8-fd5140be06e9

Terry Owen is nothing if not lucky with his timing.

Owen, the president of New Westminster-based Alda Pharmaceuticals, has capitalized on several fortuitous events in the last year and now stands on the precipice of seeing his company grow exponentially, both in sales and exposure.

In July, Owen signed a deal with the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC) to supply them with hand sanitizer and disinfectant cleaning products during the 2010 Winter Games, to be held in Vancouver from Feb. 12 to 28.

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Big chance: Terry Owen, president of Alda Pharmaceuticals, signed a deal with VANOC to supply hand sanitizer and disinfectant for the 2010 Games.

Larry Wright/THE RECORD

But the story goes back a year, to November 2008, when Johnson & Johnson, a worldwide Olympic supplier, decided to pull out of Olympic sponsorship, a deal which Owen said was worth approximately $73 million, according to his research.

Johnson & Johnson hadn't gotten the exposure it wanted during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China and amongst the products it supplied to the Olympic movement was a well-known hand sanitizer. Owen got the idea in his head that this might be a business opportunity for Alda.

Fast forward to April and Alda had just released a new hand sanitizer product, partially in response to the news that the world might soon be experiencing a global flu pandemic that we now know as the H1N1 crisis.

"We contacted VANOC in May, and they wanted to know what we could do," said Owen. "We had four of us go present to them, and when they asked how big our company was, I said 'You're looking at it.'"

Owen also gained favour with VANOC when he told them the first thing he would do is replace all the old hand sanitizer units at VANOC's offices.

It took another two months of negotiation to get a deal signed, and, by July 15, Alda became an official Olympic supplier.

"I can't say what the actual financial terms of the deal are," said Owen. "But we're in the $3 million to $15 million level of sponsorship. .... It will be very interesting when I have to do our SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) filing in the (United) States next year, but I think they do let you file the actual number and make it confidential."

Owen said Alda, now with 10 employees, has benefited from great timing.

"Who would have thought that a little company like ours would be Olympic suppliers?" he said. "It's just been a lot of good timing."

While VANOC will pay market price for the 70,000 bottles of hand sanitizer Alda will ship to them, the true value of the deal for Alda is marketing and promotion.

It didn't take long for the news to spread, as Alda products are now sold in London Drugs and T&T Supermarkets. The company signed a distribution agreement with Acklands-Grainger, one of Canada's largest industrial supply companies.

"Timing is everything," repeated Owen, who said their contracted-out production facility in Surrey has had to add a second shift to meet the demand.

The key product for Alda is T-3-6, which features 70 per cent ethanol and has been proven effective in combating Norwalk-like and H1N1 viruses.

Owen explained that the name of the product denotes the three active ingredients that are the best protection against the top six forms of bacteria, viruses or fungi.

Also in the Alda product line are T-3-6 disinfectant, disinfectant wipes, antiseptic and industrial cleaner.

As part of the sponsorship agreement, Owen has enjoyed the benefits of becoming part of the Olympic family.

On Oct. 30, Owen was one of the first Olympic Torch runners, doing his 300-metre run at 5:30 p.m. just outside the University of Victoria.

"What an incredible experience," he said. "To see the enthusiasm of so many people was infectious."

Owen estimated there were more than 5,000 people at the celebration on the university campus and at some points along the route, people were 10 deep to see him and the torch.

"I walked most of the way because I figured it would be a lot more embarrassing to start out running and then have to walk then to do it the other way around," he said, adding he did finish his leg with a spirited run to the next Torch bearer.

Owen is also proud of the fact he is helping New Westminster become a leader in the biotechnology sector.

As the former president of Helix Biotech, which has its offices right beside Alda on Columbia Street, Owen oversaw the move of that head office to the Royal City. After he joined Alda in 2003, he made it two-for-two.

"I like New Westminster, and I live here, so in many ways, it was a lifestyle decision as well as a business decision. ... New Westminster is very accessible and very central, and, with the improvements I've seen to the downtown area, I'm very happy to be a part of this move to help put New Westminster on the map."

As the Olympics approach quickly, Owen is already focused on what the future holds.

"Look at the huge, huge exposure we're going to get from this," he said. "I was here during Expo '86, and you can see what that did for Vancouver. ... I think the same thing will happen with the Olympics.

"What we do need to do though is have sensible growth.

"I come from the private sector so it will be nice to have more opportunities for this company and other companies to grow. ... Let's use this opportunity to show the world what Vancouver and local businesses can do."