Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) finalizes acquisition of BASF’s ingredients business
The acquired business encompasses a broad portfolio of food performance ingredients, including whipping agents, emulsifiers, and fat powders, as well as health-focused ingredients.
NETHERLANDS – Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) has finalized its acquisition of BASF’s Food and Health Performance Ingredients business, marking a significant strategic move in the global food and nutrition sector.
The deal, first announced in January 2025 and officially completed in late September 2025 following regulatory approvals, includes BASF’s production site in Illertissen, Germany, three application laboratories located outside Germany, and approximately 300 employees who have transitioned to LDC.
The acquired business encompasses a broad portfolio of food performance ingredients, including whipping agents, emulsifiers, and fat powders, as well as health-focused ingredients such as plant sterol esters, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and omega-3 oils.
Several smaller product lines are also part of the acquisition.
This portfolio complements LDC’s existing offerings in oils, fats, glycerin, and lecithin, thereby enhancing its footprint, particularly in plant-based and health-related ingredients.
For BASF, the divestiture is part of a strategic refocus on its core Nutrition & Health business segments, particularly vitamins and carotenoids that serve both human and animal nutrition markets.
Daniela Calleri, Senior Vice President of Nutrition Ingredients at BASF, highlighted the company’s commitment to streamlining its portfolio to meet market demand for vital nutrition ingredients better and ensure a reliable supply for customers worldwide.
LDC sees this acquisition as a major milestone in expanding its plant-based ingredients business, significantly boosting its capacity to develop innovative solutions across food, personal care, and healthcare applications.
James Zhou, LDC’s Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Food & Feed Solutions, expressed enthusiasm about integrating the new teams and opening an exciting chapter in LDC’s growth journey.
The acquisition will help LDC evolve from a raw material supplier into a trusted partner with a broader, innovation-driven portfolio.
Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
The move aligns with LDC’s strategy to deepen its presence in the fast-growing market for plant-based ingredients, leveraging the combined strengths of both companies to meet rising consumer demand for natural and functional food components.
The transaction enhances LDC’s global supply chains and application development expertise, positioning it for long-term value creation for customers worldwide.
The acquisition of BASF’s Food and Health Performance Ingredients unit strengthens LDC’s competitive position in a rapidly evolving food ingredients market, highlighting the growing importance of plant-based and health-oriented solutions in the global nutrition industry landscape.
Sign up to HERE receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
