Barentz, a food ingredients distributor, has acquired New Skyport, a Chinese distributor of specialty ingredients, following its recent cash injection.
Barentz holds a robust position in specialty ingredients, functional and nutritional blends.
The company offers specialty fibres, phosphates, novel proteins as well as sweeteners and salt replacers. It also has a strong foothold in offerings such as fortification blends for infants and medical nutrition in Europe and Asia Pacific.
For Barentz, which is active in close to 50 countries across three continents, the acquisition of New Skyport has strategic importance, with the Chinese economy playing an important role in food production.
Barentz has expressed its interest in Chinese market due to its expanding middle-class population and demand for sophisticated food and nutrition products. Chinese consumers are placing more importance on health and the quality of food products, thereby creating a need for a good market for specialised food ingredients.
New Skyport caters to customers in the food, beverage, confectionary, nutrition, supplements, and health and well-being sectors across China. New Skyport claims to have a premier position with major manufacturers of food products in China. The company is headquartered in Shanghai, with four branch offices across the Chinese East coast and one inland.
Barentz CEO Hidde van der Wal said: This acquisition adds to the worldwide presence of Barentz and accelerates our growth. Owning a distribution business in China has long been part of our expansion plan. With almost 30 people on staff in Shanghai, Dalian, Tianjin, Quingdao, Guangzhao and Chengdu, we will be able to serve a large customer base.
"Being close to ports where our ingredients come in from Europe will be an advantage for our customers, who can be served from our different warehouses in short lead times. We intend to also expand our supplier base in China and add some of the principals we have been working with in Europe, so we can serve our customers in China even better."
