Firmenich
Encyclopedia
Firmenich SA is a private Swiss company in the perfume and flavor business, it is the largest privately-owned company in the perfume and flavor business, and ranks number two worldwide., Firmenich has created many of the world’s favorite perfumes for over 100 years and produced a number of the most well known flavors enjoyed each day by millions of consumers.
Worldwide, Firmenich currently employs approximately 6,200 people in 64 countries. Major competitors include Givaudan
, International Flavors and Fragrances
and Symrise
. It bought Noville in 2006 and in 2007 acquired Danisco Flavor division.
(Switzerland
), by chemist Philippe Chuit and businessman Martin Naef. Fred Firmenich joined in 1900 and later became the majority partner. The company was eventually renamed Firmenich SA. Its current CEO is Patrick Firmenich.
Originally a fragrance company, Firmenich first branched into the flavor business by creating a raspberry
substitute in 1938, followed by creations of citrus
and strawberry
flavors. Multiple other flavors followed in the booming field of flavor synthesis, spurred by the developing trend of companies worldwide selling processed foods and preserved foods. Since then, Firmenich has become a world leader in the creation and sales of natural and artificial food flavors.
In 1939, Firmenich director of research and development
Lavoslav Ružička
was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry
.
On May 3, 2007, Firmenich announced that it is to acquire the flavors division of Danisco
in a deal reportedly worth €450 million. The deal is expected to move Firmenich ahead of IFF
as the second largest flavor company in the world.
Worldwide, Firmenich currently employs approximately 6,200 people in 64 countries. Major competitors include Givaudan
Givaudan
Givaudan is a Swiss manufacturer of flavorings and fragrances. As of 2008, it is the world's largest company in the industry.-Background:The company's scents and flavors are developed most often for food and beverage makers, but they are also used frequently in household goods, as well as grooming...
, International Flavors and Fragrances
International Flavors and Fragrances
International Flavors & Fragrances is a major producer of flavors and fragrances with sales of $2.6 billion in .Major competitors include Firmenich, Givaudan, and Symrise. IFF is a member of the S&P 500.-History:...
and Symrise
Symrise
Symrise is a major producer of flavors and fragrances with sales of € 1,572 million in 2010. Major competitors include Firmenich, Givaudan, International Flavors and Fragrances and Takasago International.-History:...
. It bought Noville in 2006 and in 2007 acquired Danisco Flavor division.
History
The company was founded as Chuit & Naef in 1895 in GenevaGeneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
(Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
), by chemist Philippe Chuit and businessman Martin Naef. Fred Firmenich joined in 1900 and later became the majority partner. The company was eventually renamed Firmenich SA. Its current CEO is Patrick Firmenich.
Originally a fragrance company, Firmenich first branched into the flavor business by creating a raspberry
Raspberry
The raspberry or hindberry is the edible fruit of a multitude of plant species in the genus Rubus, most of which are in the subgenus Idaeobatus; the name also applies to these plants themselves...
substitute in 1938, followed by creations of citrus
Citrus
Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia bordered by Northeastern India, Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China...
and strawberry
Strawberry
Fragaria is a genus of flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, commonly known as strawberries for their edible fruits. Although it is commonly thought that strawberries get their name from straw being used as a mulch in cultivating the plants, the etymology of the word is uncertain. There...
flavors. Multiple other flavors followed in the booming field of flavor synthesis, spurred by the developing trend of companies worldwide selling processed foods and preserved foods. Since then, Firmenich has become a world leader in the creation and sales of natural and artificial food flavors.
In 1939, Firmenich director of research and development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
Lavoslav Ružička
Lavoslav Ružicka
Lavoslav Ružička FRS born as Lavoslav Ružička was a Croatian scientist and winner of the 1939 Nobel Prize in Chemistry who worked most of his life in Switzerland...
was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Nobel Prize in Chemistry
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry is awarded annually by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences to scientists in the various fields of chemistry. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895, awarded for outstanding contributions in chemistry, physics, literature,...
.
On May 3, 2007, Firmenich announced that it is to acquire the flavors division of Danisco
Danisco
Danisco A/S is a Danish bio-based company with activities in food production, enzymes and other bioproducts as well as a wide variety of pharmaceutical grade excipients. It was formed in 1989 from the largest Danish industrial merger ever of the two old C.F...
in a deal reportedly worth €450 million. The deal is expected to move Firmenich ahead of IFF
International Flavors and Fragrances
International Flavors & Fragrances is a major producer of flavors and fragrances with sales of $2.6 billion in .Major competitors include Firmenich, Givaudan, and Symrise. IFF is a member of the S&P 500.-History:...
as the second largest flavor company in the world.