FDL, with projected 2023 sales of approximately $120 million, operates three production facilities and two customer innovation centers, all in the United Kingdom. The company’s approximately 235 colleagues, which include about 40 dedicated innovation specialists, have created more than 10,000 proprietary flavor formulations that enable accelerated speed to market. FDL’s customers span channels and include a significant presence in the $900 billion European foodservice segment.

“Our ongoing investments to add to our flavors portfolio are helping power our strategic work to build a global leader in Nutrition,” said Calvin McEvoy, ADM’s president of global flavors. “FDL’s innovative and agile formulation knowledge, deep end-use applications expertise, and strong customer base make them a great addition to ADM’s global flavor capabilities. We are incredibly impressed by the FDL team, and we believe both companies will benefit from each other as we work to expand our reach in key channels, particularly foodservice.”

Eric Beatty, CEO of FDL, said, “We are excited to enter into this agreement with ADM. They’re an ideal partner for us, with global nutrition and flavor capabilities that will provide new opportunities to strengthen FDL’s portfolio of taste and nutrition solutions. In turn, the FDL team looks forward to helping add to ADM’s broad offerings with our diverse portfolio of flavour and functional ingredient systems, IP, and capabilities, as well as the entrepreneurial spirit and innovativeness of human talent that has enabled FDL to become a differentiated market leader today. ADM is synonymous with the best in animal and human nutrition, and together, we look forward to delivering new and innovative ingredient solutions to our global customer base in the food and beverage industry.”

The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions. ADM intends to complete the transaction by end of January 2024.

Photo courtesy of ADM.