Rousselot’s parent company VION sealed the deal last Friday from the Eastman Kodak Company. Financial details were not disclosed.
Eastman Gel, based in Peabody, Massachusetts, employs 95 people and produces 5,500 tonnes of gelatine annually.
Closer to customers
Marc van der Lee, director corporate communications at VION, told ConfectionerNews.com: “With this acquisition we have the possibility to strengthen our position in this part of the market of North America.”
While Roussolet is the market leading gelatine producer in Europe and Asia-Pacific it is currently positioned second in North America.
Van der Lee said that the acquisition would give Rousselot “a better foothold in the local market” and mean the company was present in “the direct neighbourhood” of its customers.
Increased capacity
Rousselot already has a presence in North America with a production site in Dubuque, Iowa.
Throughout its 12 facilities worldwide manned by 2,400 employees the company currently produces 80,000 tonnes of gelatine annually, up over 70% since 2000.
The Eastman Gel acquisition is expected to further boost production capacity by around 7%.
Eastman Gel also manufactures gelatine for companies outside the confectionery industry.
VION said that it expected the acquisition to strengthen Rousselot’s position in growing pharma-markets and its current position in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Van der Lee was asked whether some of its new customers in North America could be confectionery firms, but he refused to be drawn on information about customers.
Rousselot forms part of international ingredients firm VION, which has an annual turnover of € 8.9bn and employs 26.500 staff worldwide.
The company is the leading gelatine supplier worldwide with a 25% market share.