Royal DSM, the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company, has announced that it has signed an agreement with P&R Group (Italy) to acquire Vitatene S.A.U., based in León (Spain), a producer of natural carotenoids.
Founded in 2004, Vitatene is a leader in the production and sale of a range of high-value natural carotenoid products derived from fermentation of the fungus Blakeslea trispora. The products are sold under the brand names Betanat and Lyconat. The products are an addition to DSM’s current portfolio of highly functional carotenoids, ranging from betacarotene to lutein and zeaxanthin. Leendert Staal, president and CEO of DSM Nutritional Products, said: “This acquisition fits perfectly with our strategy “DSM in motion: driving focused growth”. Consumer demand for natural products continues to grow. Vitatene is an excellent fit with DSM’s current product portfolio and technological capabilities and will allow us to drive the growth in natural carotenoids.” Carlo Pizzocaro, CEO of P&R Group, said: “It is great that we have found such a strong new home for Vitatene’s business. We believe this is excellent news for our customers and Vitatene’s staff. We will work with DSM to make the transfer as smooth as possible to guarantee business continuity for our customers.” Carotenoids are naturally occurring fatsoluble pigments that are synthesised by plants, algae and photosynthetic bacteria. They are the sources of the yellow, orange, and red colours in many plants, such as the orange-red colours of oranges, tomatoes and carrots and the yellow colours of many flowers.
