USA – T. Hasegawa USA, a leading global ingredients company, has acquired Mission Flavors & Fragrances in an effort to expands its technical capabilities and overall flavor portfolio.

Mission Flavors & Fragrances is a manufacturer of custom flavor solutions based in California.

The company’s custom flavor solutions in trendy categories like plant-based alternatives and confectionary would particularly come in handy as they would continue T. Hasegawa’s ability to innovate in the space.

Mission’s office and production will also stay in California, expanding T. Hasegawa’s presence in the country’s most populous state.

Mission Flavors & Fragrances in a statement said it would benefit from T. Hasegawa’s expertise in advanced technology, thermal processing and supply chain management, allowing the company to grow its reach and capabilities.

T. Hasegawa’s said that the acquisition of Mission Flavors fits into its strategy to broaden its flavors in dairy, bakery, plant-based alternatives, fruit filling and confectionary categories.

Mission Flavors & Fragrances “expands our technical capabilities and overall flavor portfolio so we can better serve our customers,” said Tom Damiano, CEO of T. Hasegawa USA.

The acquisition comes at a time when companies in the food ingredients space are making deals to expand their market size and portfolio.

One of those companies making deals is Kerry Group. Last year, Kerry grew its clean label food protection capabilities through the acquisitions of IsoAge Technologies and Biosecur Lab.

Ingredion also recently acquired the remaining portion of Verdient Foods, which produces pulse-based concentrates and flours from peas, lentils and fava bean.

And in a mega-merger, International Flavors & Fragrances is buying DuPont’s Nutrition & Biosciences business in a deal the companies valued at US$26.2 billion.

Similar to other ingredients companies in the space, T. Hasegawa has been working to expand its flavor portfolio.

Last August, it hired Jim Yang as vice president of research and development. He is now focusing on flavor development for T. Hasegawa.

Just a few months ago, the company also announced the launch of its Japanese citrus portfolio with eight new flavors at a time when citrus flavors have been in demand.

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