Ingredients Categories

News

Symrise acquires natural nutrition ingredient provider

7 Feb 2019

Symrise has signed a purchase agreement with the owners of natural nutrition ingredient provider ADF/IDF regarding the acquisition of their business.

Symrise acquires natural nutrition ingredient provider

Symrise has signed a purchase agreement with the owners of natural nutrition ingredient provider ADF/IDF regarding the acquisition of their business. With the acquisition, Symrise aims to broaden its activities in the fast growing pet food business and to expand its position in the food nutrition market. The purchase price amounting to $900 million will be financed by debt and equity.

With its approximately 470 employees, ADF/IDF generated sales of $220 million and an EBITDA margin of 23%.

“The strategic acquisition of ADF/IDF perfectly delivers on our strategy to expand in fast growing, high-margin business areas. The complementary offering will further diversify our Diana portfolio in pet food and nutrition. The acquisition of the leading provider of natural pet food nutrition ingredients is a further breakthrough for Symrise into the pet food nutrition market. With our expertise in pet food palatability and competence in nutrition solutions, we will create an integrated partner for our pet food clients,” said Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Bertram, CEO of Symrise AG. “Through this acquisition, we will also broaden our global presence especially in the USA – a strategically important growth market for us – and strengthen our customer base.”

Headquartered in Springfield, MO, ADF/IDF (American Dehydrated Foods/International Dehydrated Foods) was founded in 1978 and specialises in sustainable meat and egg-based nutrition ingredients.

The combination of ADF/IDF and the Symrise Nutrition division Diana will, according to Symrise, create a leading global player in meat and egg-based protein specialties with focus on all natural and sustainable solutions.

William Darr, founder of ADF/IDF, said: “We are delighted to have found in Symrise a new strong owner for our company, they share the same values and the same mindset on the further development of the business. In the starting phase of our company, we already worked very closely with Diana, which is today leading Symrise’s nutrition activities. ADF/IDF and Symrise have many things in common. We are both committed to high-quality natural products derived from sustainable resources. And we both drive innovation to develop solutions that best serve our customers’ needs. Our company will benefit from Symrise’s scientific know-how to further improve our products. Also, Symrise’s wide global presence and broad customer base will allow ADF/IDF to expand its business faster.”

Related news

Arla Foods and DMK Group merge in big-dairy development

Arla Foods and DMK Group merge in big-dairy development

24 Jun 2026

International dairy company Arla Foods and German farmer-owned business DMK Group are to merge, creating one of Europe’s biggest dairy cooperatives.

Read more 
Greenpeace study finds microplastics in baby food products

Greenpeace study finds microplastics in baby food products

22 Jun 2026

A Greenpeace study found microplastics in nearly every sample taken from Nestlé’s Gerber and Danone’s Happy Baby Organics baby food plastic pouches.

Read more 
Mycotoxin warning for processed plant-based foods

Mycotoxin warning for processed plant-based foods

18 Jun 2026

Almost all plant-based food and drinks contain mycotoxins – naturally-occurring toxic compounds produced by fungi – and raw material monitoring should be extended, say researchers.

Read more 
Market watch: Allergen-free no longer a 'fringe niche'

Market watch: Allergen-free no longer a 'fringe niche'

17 Jun 2026

Allergen-free food and drink products are now “structurally embedded” into the wider health and wellness category, with significant innovation happening at retail and brand level, say experts.

Read more 
IFF prepares to sell food ingredients business to CVC

IFF prepares to sell food ingredients business to CVC

16 Jun 2026

With IFF set to sell its food ingredients division to CVC Capital Partners for €3.7 billion, we look at how mergers, acquisitions, and divestments are shaping the sector.

Read more 
US industry panel recommends new UPF policy definition

US industry panel recommends new UPF policy definition

11 Jun 2026

US-based Healthy Eating Research has proposed an ingredient-based approach to defining ultra-processed foods (UPFs) to make them easier to identify for policy purposes.

Read more 
Ingredion’s Tate & Lyle takeover bid offers scale and science

Ingredion’s Tate & Lyle takeover bid offers scale and science

5 Jun 2026

US ingredients business Ingredion has made a £2.7bn takeover bid for its London-listed peer Tate & Lyle.

Read more 
Basic staples get a premium upgrade for at-home eating

Basic staples get a premium upgrade for at-home eating

3 Jun 2026

From Kraft Heinz’s “restaurant-style” mac and cheese to Mars’ street food-inspired noodles, brands are elevating their basic staple meals with premium versions.

Read more 
What will US front-of-pack nutrition labels look like?

What will US front-of-pack nutrition labels look like?

28 May 2026

US front of pack nutrition labels are on the way – but policymakers and researchers are divided on how best to design them.

Read more 
Gatorade switches from artificial to natural colours

Gatorade switches from artificial to natural colours

27 May 2026

PepsiCo-owned brand Gatorade is removing artificial colours from its powder sticks and three ready-to-drink flavours, reformulating them using colours from fruits and vegetables.

Read more