Sensient acquires Canadian firm Mazza Innovation

US-based flavour and fragrance manufacturer Sensient Technologies has acquired Canadian botanical extraction technology provider Mazza Innovation for an undisclosed sum.

The acquisition is expected to support Sensient’s ‘seed to shelf’ strategy, which focuses on innovation across the value chain for natural and organic ingredients.

Sensient intends to make use of Mazza’s extraction technology in order to address customer demand for pure ingredients within food and beverage, nutraceutical and other products.

Sensient Technologies chairman, president, and CEO Paul Manning said: “This acquisition is extremely significant for Sensient and our customers.

“The combination of our colour and flavour expertise and Mazza’s revolutionary technology will allow us to conduct extraction from natural plant sources using environmentally friendly extraction methods, including water only extractions, instead of traditional chemical solvents.

“This technology will enable us to work with leading food, cosmetics and nutraceutical brands to create cost-effective, clean-label products that deliver on consumer expectations for taste, colour and functionality.”

The company is engaged in the production of colours, flavours and fragrances using advanced technologies at a number of facilities worldwide.

A not-for-profit entity known as Natural Products Canada (NPC) previously invested in Mazza and its PhytoClean extraction technology in September last year.

The solution was originally developed by Dr Giuseppe Mazza during his time as a researcher with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Mazza is developing plans to launch a series of proprietary ingredients for the worldwide health supplement market, in addition to supplying the extraction service to global leaders in the supplement industry.

NPC was one of the institutional and individual investors that participated in Mazza’s C$3m ($2.2m) financing round.