Givaudan

Infobox_Company
company_name = Givaudan S.A.
company_
company_type = Public SWX: [http://www.swx.com/admission/listing/equity_market/finder/issuer_information_en.html?id=11181 GIVN]
foundation = 1895
location = Vernier, Switzerland
key_people = [http://www.givaudan.com/givcom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=ac4b1250404ea010VgnVCM1000001053410aRCRD&vgnextchannel=aa61749c6db9a010VgnVCM1000001053410aRCRD&vgnextfmt=rightNav Gilles Andrier] , CEO
num_employees = 8,776
industry = Flavors and Fragrance
products = Flavors and Fragrances
revenue = CHF 4,132 million (2007)
homepage = [http://www.givaudan.com/ www.givaudan.com]

Givaudan is the world's largest producer of flavors and fragrances with sales of CHF 4,132 million in 2007. [http://www.givaudan.com/staticweb/StaticFiles/GivaudanExtranet/Publications/fin_pubs/fy_report/2006/givaudan_ar_fy2007.pdf 2007 Annual Report] ] Flavor sales account for 54% of total sales while fragrances makes up the remaining 46%. The company has operations all over the world in 100 countries. Today, the corporate headquarters of Givaudan are still located in Vernier, the company's flavor operations are headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio and the fragrance operations are headquartered in Paris, France. [http://www.givaudan.com/givcom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=ac4b1250404ea010VgnVCM1000001053410aRCRD&vgnextchannel=aa61749c6db9a010VgnVCM1000001053410aRCRD&vgnextfmt=rightNav Gilles Andrier] is the current CEO of Givaudan taking over in 2004 from [http://www.givaudan.com/givcom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=d6550910cca1b010VgnVCM1000001053410aRCRD&vgnextchannel=0264749c6db9a010VgnVCM1000001053410aRCRD&vgnextfmt=rightNav Dr Jürg Witmer] who is the current chairman of the [http://www.givaudan.com/givcom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=0264749c6db9a010VgnVCM1000001053410aRCRD&vgnLocale=en board of directors] .Major competitors include Firmenich, International Flavors and Fragrances, and Symrise.

The work Givaudan does for flavors and consumer fragrances is highly confidential. However, in the high prestige fine fragrance arena Givaudan has created fragrances for designers like Calvin Klein, Bijan, Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss and celebrities like Michael Jordan. Givaudan runs a perfumery school in Paris, France and claims to have trained one in three of all creative perfumers in the industry.

History

Givaudan was founded as a perfumery company in 1895 in Zurich (Switzerland) by Leon and Xavier Givaudan, although some parts of the modern company date back as far as 1796. In 1898 Givaudan moved to Geneva (Switzerland) and constructed a factory in Vernier. In the 1960s, Givaudan entered the flavor business at a time when changing lifestyles was fueling an increased demand for easy-to-prepare meals.

In 1937 Givaudan's predecessor Roure created the first designer perfume: Schocking for Schiaparelli.

In 1963, Givaudan was acquired by Roche and in 1964, Roche acquired one of Givaudan's competitors, Roure. Both companies flourished independently under Roche until 1991 when Givaudan and Roure were merged to form Givaudan-Roure. Also in 1991, the company bought Fritzsche, Dodge and Olcott, a US based flavor and fragrance company, who’s origins date back to the late 1700’s. In 1997 Givaudan-Roure acquired another flavor company, Tastemaker, based in Cincinnati, Ohio (USA). The merger made Givaudan the largest flavor company in the world and the Tastemaker facility in Cincinnati became Givaudan's new headquarters for its flavor business. In 2000 Givaudan-Roure was spun-off by its parent company as Givaudan and listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (Code GIVN.VX) where it is part of the SMI. In 2002 Givaudan acquired FIS the flavors division of Nestle.

Givaudan's United States fragrance headquarters, in Teaneck, New Jersey, was built in 1972 from a design by Der Scutt, architect of the Trump Tower. [Chadderdon, Lisa. [http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/14/smell.html "The Sweet Smell of Success: A building in Teaneck, New Jersey is the source of some of the world's most popular fragrances. Meet Givaudan Roure's perfumers, the 'ghostwriters' behind your favorite scents."] , "Fast Company (magazine)", March 1998. Accessed August 22, 2007. "In fact, more than 30% of the world's fine perfumes for women can be traced to Givaudan Roure - and to an inconspicuous brick building set back from the street in suburban Teaneck, New Jersey. Inside the building, designed by Der Scutt (architect of the Trump Tower) and constructed in 1972, is an environment that fosters creativity."]

On 22 November 2006, Givaudan announced the acquisition of Quest International to be completed Q1 2007. [ [http://www.givaudan.com/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=4009e9acaa4de010VgnVCM1000001053410aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default&cpsextcurrchannel=1 Quest acquisition announcement] ] [ [http://www.axisto.com/webcasting/tv/uk/givaudan-suisse/221106-cnbc/ CNBC Interview with CEO Gilles Andrier on Quest acquisition] ] On 21 February 2007, the EU approved the merger of Givaudan and Quest clearing the final regulatory hurdle for the merger after the US authorities approved the merger earlier in the month. [ [http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/ng.asp?n=74416-givaudan-quest-flavour EU approval for merger] .] The merger deal closed on 2 March 2007. The acquisition makes Givaudan the global leader in both fine fragrances and consumer products. Givaudan was already the global leader in flavors and the acquisition of Quest International strengthens their position. [ [http://www.givaudan.com/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=01299ee936f01110VgnVCM1000004a53410aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default&cpsextcurrchannel=1 Quest acquisition closure] .] The acquisition of Quest boosted Givaudan's sales by 42% from CHF 2,909 million in 2006 to CHF 4,132 million in 2007.

References

External links

* [http://www.givaudan.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.leffingwell.com/top_10.htm Leffingwell & Associates Flavor & Fragrance Industry Leaders]
* [http://www.pionnair-ge.com/spip1/article.php3?id_article=234 L.Givaudan & balloons]
* [http://www.executiveinterviews.com/2959-giva-cnbceu/ CNBC interview with Gilles Andrier on 2008 half year results]