Firmenich
Type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | Flavors, Fragrance, Ingredient |
Founded | 1895 |
Headquarters | Geneva, Switzerland |
Key people | Gilbert Ghostine (CEO), Patrick Firmenich (Chairman) |
Products | Flavors, Fragrance, Ingredient |
Revenue | CHF 3.9 billion (2019) |
Number of employees | 10,000 (2020) |
Website | www.firmenich.com |
Firmenich SA is a private Swiss company in the fragrance and flavor business. It is the largest privately owned company in the field and ranks number two worldwide.[1] Firmenich has created perfumes for over 100 years and produced a number of well-known flavors.
Firmenich employs 10,000 people across 66 facilities.[2] Major competitors include Givaudan, International Flavors and Fragrances and Symrise.
History[]
The company was founded as Chuit & Naef in 1895 in Geneva by chemist Philippe Chuit and businessman Martin Naef. Fred Firmenich joined in 1900 and later became the majority partner. The company was renamed Firmenich SA.[3]
Originally a fragrance company, Firmenich branched into the flavor business by creating a raspberry substitute in 1938, followed by creations of citrus and strawberry flavor. Other synthetic flavors followed for use in processed foods and preserved foods.[1]
In 1939, Firmenich Director of Research and Development Lavoslav Ružička was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for his work on polymethylenes and higher terpenes,"[4][5] "including the first chemical synthesis of male sex hormones."[6][7]
On May 3, 2007, Firmenich announced that it would be acquiring the flavors division of Danisco, Noville, in a deal worth €450 million.[8][9] The deal was expected to move Firmenich ahead of IFF as the second largest flavor company in the world.[1]
Firmenich's board named Gilbert Ghostine as CEO to succeed Patrick Firmenich, effective October 1, 2014.[10] Patrick Firmenich was elected as chairman of Firmenich’s Board of Directors as of October 12, 2016.[11]
On July 11, 2017, Firmenich completed the acquisition of Agilex Fragrances, expanding its ability to serve mid-sized customers in North America.[12]
On December 13, 2017, Firmenich announced the acquisition of Flavourome, an established privately held flavors company in South Africa, to expand its presence in Africa.[13] On February 5, 2018, Firmenich confirmed the successful completion of the acquisition.[14]
In August 2018, Firmenich acquired Campus, an innovator in the application of "natural functional ingredients for protein application", which specializes "in clean label, meat, dairy, sauces and plant-based food". The research and production facilities of Campus are located in Italy and Monterrey, Mexico.[15]
At some point, Firmenich acquired Natural Flavors, a manufacturer of flavors for the food and beverage industry.[citation needed]
In September 2018, Firmenich announced its intent to acquire Senomyx.[16]
In October 2020, Firmenich announced that it had created a flavour by means of artificial intelligence. It teamed with Microsoft who helped leverage "the entirety of Firmenich’s broad raw material database" to dissimulate "a lightly grilled beef taste" into its . Firmenich’s "unique palette of ingredients" and "SmartProteins expertise in plant-based protein alternatives" were instrumental in the innovation process.[17]
Lobby groups[]
Firmenich is a member of the European Flavour Association.[18]
In March 2021, Firmenich, Givaudan, IFF and Symrise launched the .[19]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Flavor & Fragrance Industry – Top 10". leffingwell.com. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
- ^ Stuart, Eden. "Firmenich Posts FY 2019 Financials". Perfumer & Flavorist. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
- ^ Shyndriayeva, Galina (2015). "Perfume at the Forefront of Macrocyclic Compound Research: From Switzerland to Du Pont" (PDF). International Workshop on the History of Chemistry. Tokyo.
- ^ https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/1939/summary/
- ^ "Forward-thinking research for fragrance & flavor expertise". Firmenich. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ Hillier, Stephen G.; Lathe, Richard (2019). "Terpenes, hormones and life: Isoprene rule revisited". Journal of Endocrinology. 242 (2): R9–R22. doi:10.1530/JOE-19-0084. PMID 31051473.
- ^ Nieschlag, Eberhard; Nieschlag, Susan (2019). "ENDOCRINE HISTORY: The history of discovery, synthesis and development of testosterone for clinical use". European Journal of Endocrinology. 180 (6): R201–R212. doi:10.1530/EJE-19-0071. PMID 30959485.
- ^ Heller, Lorraine (July 3, 2007). "Danisco completes flavours sale to Firmenich". Food Navigator. William Reed Business Media. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
- ^ "All News". foodnavigator-usa.com. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
- ^ "Firmenich Names New CEO Gilbert Ghostine, Effective Oct. 1". perfumerflavorist.com. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
- ^ "Firmenich Appoints New Chairman, Board Members". wwd.com. 12 October 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
- ^ "Firmenich to Acquire Agilex Fragrances". perfumerflavorist.com. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
- ^ "Firmenich Acquires Flavourome". firmenich.com. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ^ "Firmenich Acquires Flavourome". perfumerflavorist.com. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ^ "Firmenich Acquires Campus". firmenich.com. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
- ^ "Firmenich Acquires Flavourome". firmenich.com. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
- ^ "Firmenich Announces AI-Created Flavor". Allured Business Media. Perfumer & Flavorist. 2 October 2020.
- ^ "About EFFA". EFFA. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- ^ "Firmenich, Givaudan, IFF, Symrise Launch Fragrance Council". Allured Business Media. Perfumer & Flavorist. 16 March 2021.
- Chemical companies of Switzerland
- Flavor companies
- Fragrance companies
- Manufacturing companies based in Geneva
- Food and drink companies of Switzerland
- Cosmetics companies of Switzerland
- Multinational companies headquartered in Switzerland