ADM buys Swiss ingredients firm for billions

01-Oct-2014 - Last updated on 02-Oct-2014 at 13:43 GMT

ADM plans further expansion into the ingredients sector

US grain giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) has acquired the Swiss-based food ingredients firm Wild Flavors for €2bn (£1.5bn).

ADM announced its plans to acquire Wild, which will be the company’s biggest purchase ever, in July this year.

The deal was finalised this week and will allow the grain giant to insulate itself against the volatile grain market by increasing its presence in the ingredients sector, it said.

ADM, which has more than 30,000 employees, plans to design ingredients for protein drinks and nut bars, which is more profitable than trading grain and less susceptible to the changing commodity market, it added.

‘Increase returns’

“One of the most important ways we are working to increase returns and reduce earnings volatility is through the growth of our speciality ingredients offerings,” said Patrick Woertz, ADM chairman and ceo.

“These high-value products provide the opportunity for increased margins and strong sales aligned with global consumer trends."

ADM’s acquisition of Wild is the latest in a series of the company’s plans to expand into the speciality ingredients market and coincide with ADM’s entrance in to the protein and soluble-fibre sectors.

The purchase of Wild will help ADM form a new business unit, which will be called Wild Flavors and Speciality Ingredients, said Woertz.

New business unit

Wild Flavors and Speciality Ingredients will consist of the current Wild business, speciality proteins, emulsifiers, edible beans, natural health and nutrition, soluble fibre, polyols and hydrocolloids.

Greg Morris, previously ADM’s president of oilseed processing in North America, will head the new business unit.

Vince Macciocchi has been named global president of Wild Flavors and will be responsible for the business’s go-to-market strategy, which will develop new products.

“Greg and Vince are responsible for ensuring that Wild Flavors’ recipe for success continues,” said Woertz.

“Between our global networks, tremendous innovation capabilities, great teams and extensive product lines from both ADM and Wild, we now have one of the world’s leading flavours and speciality ingredient companies,” he added.