Givaudan acquires b.kolor to expand makeup & skin care offer

03-Jul-2024 - Last updated on 03-Jul-2024 at 13:29 GMT

b.kolor's value chain covers the entire creation process from the customer’s brief until the end product

Swiss beauty and fragrance ingredients company Givaudan has acquired b.kolormakeup & skincare (b.kolor) – an Italian beauty manufacturer that specialises in developing and producing finished colour cosmetics and skin care products.

The move appears to be in line with its 2025 strategy to expand its presence in beauty.

In July 2021, Givaudan acquired 25% of b.kolor. By acquiring the rest of the business, it can now widen its capabilities for colour cosmetics and skin care applications.

The Swiss ingredients company, which is already a leader in the fragrance and hair care categories, said it hopes that this move will “enlarge its value proposition in the beauty sector.”

Strengthens capabilities for makeup and skin care

President of Givaudan’s fragrance & beauty, Maurizio Volpi, stated: “By sharing our creative and innovation capabilities, we will generate additional value to our respective customers by providing a complete offer combining high level of science with excellence in design.”

Head of Givaudan Active Beauty, Markus Rassmann, added that the company was “delighted to expand in beauty by benefiting from b.kolor expertise” and that the acquisition “not only strengthens our capabilities in the fields of makeup and skin care, but also positions us as leaders in driving the market towards an ever more solutions-driven future.”

Founded in 2000, b.kolor is headquartered near Milan, Italy, and employs more than 300 people. The company is seen as an expert in creative formulation design and the production of finished products for B2B customers, focusing on innovation and sensory benefits.

The Italian beauty company offers around 250 new products to its customers per year and its value chain covers the entire creation process from the customer’s brief until the end product. It has two factories in Treviglio and serves a broad range of customers, from indie companies to multinational, with 90% of its sales outside of Italy.

Chairwoman and cofounder of b.kolor, Maria-Teresa Sancini, said that joining Givaudan was “a great opportunity to bring our businesses to new heights.”

She noted that the ingredients experts’ capabilities in creation, ingredients and technology will help: “evolve product offering, while benefiting from Givaudan’s customer base and geographical footprint to expand ourselves in new territories.”

The terms of the deal have not been disclosed. But Givaudan has said that in its 2023 financial results, its 25% stake in ownership of the b.kolor business would have represented approximately CHF 77m of incremental sales.