Denmark-based Chr Hansen Natural Colors has purchased Spanish food and beverage colours provider Secna Natural Ingredients Group for an undisclosed sum.

The acquired company provides natural colours and pigments, including anthocyanins from black carrots and grape, as well as caramel.

Apart from Spain, Secna Natural Ingredients Group has operations in Italy and Turkey.

Secna Group CEO Gabriel Muñoz said: “It’s a win-win situation as Chr. Hansen Natural Colors will add our strong pigment offerings in anthocyanins and caramel to their collection while providing our valued customers and suppliers with access to their portfolio, technologies and market reach, which is the most extensive in the industry.”

The acquisition marks Chr Hansen Natural Colors’ first major deal since being acquired by private equity firm EQT in September 2020.

Chr Hansen Natural Colors CEO Odd Erik Hansen said: “We’re committed to continuing to find new ways to harness and share the power of nature’s true colours. This is the first of many exciting milestones for us as a standalone company.

“We look to enhance our value proposition and strengthen our operational platform together with the team at Secna at a time when demand for naturally sourced colours is increasing.”

In October 2020, Chr Hansen Natural Colors opened a new research and development (R&D) centre in Montpellier, France.

The new facility was part of the company’s long-term investment strategy to strengthen its position in the natural colour solutions segment, as well as its pigment, formulation and application capabilities.