Diastatische’s liquid and powder malt extracts, and its ingredients are used by food and beverage manufacturers for making bakery goods, breakfast cereals, chocolate bars and instant beverages. Made out of ground barley malt at the plant in Leiden, The Netherlands, the extracts can claim to be ‘all natural’, and add colour, flavour and texture to the final product.
The company has a long history – it was founded in 1936 – but it has noticed that Belgium is presenting particular opportunities for malt ingredients in chocolate and bakery products; and Poland is said to be “one of Europe’s fastest-growing markets for malt-based products”.
The Middle East food sector, meanwhile, has proved attractive to a number of European ingredients companies in recent times. Companies with a presence now include German natural ingredient firm Wild, its compatriot Döhler, and flavour and fragrance company Firmenich.
Univar, meanwhile, has built up a reputation as an important distributor of ingredients to the food sector in Europe. Overall it represents some 2500 products to 250,000 customers, so there is a great deal of opportunity to introduce new offerings in the portfolio to existing customers.
Its global distribution set up comprises 56 distribution centres in 56 counties, from where it can easily reach local customers. It has a sales office in the Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai, an office and warehouse in Anderlecht, Belgium, and three locations in Poland in Suchy Las, Ozarów Mazowiecki and a warehouse in Gliwice.
In 2008, Univar reported sales of €9.4bn.
Diastatische also supplies malt extracts to the pharmaceutical sector, but this market is not understood to be included in the distribution deal with Univar.