Frutarom says that the business has an annual turnover of 18.3 million euros. This is the second unit of Denmark's Christian Hansen Holdings A/S Frutarom has acquired.

Christian Hansen Italia produces savory flavors, seasoning compounds and functional ingredients for the food industry, with a focus on processed meat and convenience food applications. Most of the company's business is with leading Italian meat processors, and it also has customers in France, Poland, Czech Republic, Russiaand Ukraine.

Frutarom said the acquisition will give it a strong foothold in the Italian market, where it currently has little presence. The assets purchased include a plant in Parma, which Frutarom will integrate with its other European operations.

Frutarom has acquired several European companies in the past few years, including Gewurzmuller GmbH and GewurzMuhle Nesse in Germany, Christian Hansen Deutschland, Oxford Chemicals Ltd. in the UK, and two companies earlier this year, East Anglian Food Ingredients Ltd. in the UK and Rieber Industrial Spices Savory in Norway.

Frutarom president and CEO Ori Yehudai said, “This acquisition is a continuation of Frutarom’s rapid growth strategy, and further solidifies its position as one of the top 10 flavor companies."

From the May 26, 2011, Prepared Foods' Daily News.