AAK purchases BIC Ingredients’ lecithin division

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AAK (Malmö, Sweden) purchased BIC Ingredients (The Netherlands), an arm of BIC International Holding that supplies non-GM specialty lecithin and lecithin compounds sourced from various regions around the world. AAK will integrate BIC Ingredients’ products into its current portfolio of specialty lecithins sold under the Akolec brand.

“BIC Ingredients is a natural fit with our business,” said Alec van Veldhoven, commercial director at AAK Natural Emulsifiers, in a press release. “Its existing lecithin customers will now be able to benefit from AAK’s unique customer co-development approach, which is driven by customer needs, built on collaboration, and geared for better success rates and lasting value. By expanding our portfolio further, we will be able to create even better solutions in close collaboration with our customers globally.”

Harro de Groot, CEO of BIC International Holding, said in a press release that his team and himself will still be involved in the business and support AAK’s team for the next three years. “This transaction will further enable BIC International Holding to increase its focus on plant-based protein through our entity BIC Protein," he explained.