Kerry Ingredients & Flavours has completed the acquisition of South African flavours company FlavourCraft, which sees Kerry expand its presence not just in South Africa, serving food manufacturers in the country, but across the continent.

Established in 1993, Durban-based FlavourCraft specialises in the design and manufacture of flavours for meats, soups, sauces, dressings and savoury snacks in the South African and sub-Saharan markets, particularly in Nigeria. Technologies employed include; Savoury Systems and Flavours derived out of natural and synthetic aroma compounds, process flavours, hydrolysed vegetable protein, spray drying and blending.

FlavourCraft provides Kerry with its first manufacturing facility in Africa, a 4000 square metre factory outside Durban with a 30,000 tonne dry blend capacity per annum, spray drying capacity: 10kg/hr, 100kg/hr, 400kg/hr and blending capacity of 1, 3, 6, 8 or 12 tonnes. It also brings with it a first class customer and application centre, providing local research and development capability, which will enable Kerry to expand its capability in developing and producing ingredients to meet local market needs.

Commenting on the deal Ryan Ponquett Managing Director of FlavourCraft said: “FlavourCraft and Kerry ingredients & Flavours are a perfect fit, with the same views around creating market-leading flavour ingredients. By teaming up with a like-minded global player our customers and those across the continent will gain access to Kerry’s huge taste, ingredients and applications knowledge. This will enable them to bring customer-preferred products to market faster and at better value.”

This latest acquisition complements another recently made by Kerry in the region – that of Cargill’s flavour business in South Africa. Taken together these acquisitions, backed by Kerry’s market leading technologies and R&D capabilities, create a powerful flavours force in the region.

Kerry’s Africa Zone Director Bart van Schie said: “This acquisition represents a clear illustration of Kerry’s commitment to developing our business across Africa. FlavourCraft’s product portfolio, knowledge and customer base in South Africa, Nigeria and across west Africa will be an asset to us and assist our expansion plans across the continent.”

Issued on behalf of Kerry Ingredients & Flavours
Media contact: Clare Walder
Tel. +44 (0)1869 353 800 or email clare.walder@collegehill.com 

Notes for editors

Kerry is a world leader in food ingredients and flavours serving the food and beverage industry, and a leading supplier of added value food service brands. Headquartered in Tralee, Ireland, the Group has revenues of approximately Eur 5 billion and employs some 23,000 people throughout its manufacturing, sales and technology centres around the world.  Kerry supplies over 15,000 products to customers in more than 140 countries worldwide.