News

Roquette expands caramel capability with acquisition

12 Jul 2018

Roquette has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of Sethness Products Company, a producer of caramel colour for food and beverage markets.

Roquette has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of Sethness Products Company, a producer of caramel colour for food and beverage markets.

The family business was founded in the USA in 1880 and is headquartered in Skokie (IL). Sethness provides a large selection of caramel colours (in liquid and powdered forms) as well as a variety of clean-label caramel colour options (non-GMO, certified organic, gluten-free, allergen-free, etc.). Its four manufacturing facilities located in the USA, France, India and China supply the world’s leading food and beverage companies.

Roquette and Sethness currently operate two JVs in France and in China.

The closing of the acquisition of Sethness is expected to occur in Q3 2018. The closing remains subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions and, until then, Sethness remains 100% owned and managed by the existing shareholders.

Jean-Marc Gilson, CEO of Roquette, said: “This acquisition will help accelerate Roquette’s growth plan in the Food & Beverage market, and further drive value for our customers. We have been very happy to successfully partner with Sethness in France and China for years. We are looking forward to working with their talented teams to continue addressing customers’ current and future needs everywhere in the world.”

Chuck Sethness, Representative of the Sethness family, said: “Today is an important day in our long history. Over the past 135-years, our family-owned company has strived to offer the highest quality caramel color products to the most recognized players in the Food & Beverage industry. I am pleased that Roquette, a Group with which we share common values and a long-term vision, will now continue to leverage on the strong assets of both companies to reinforce its relationships with clients for the benefit of consumers globally.”