Speciality food ingredients firm Azelis has agreed to acquire Danish ingredient distributor LCH.

The deal will see 16 LCH employees and its Turkish subsidiary Inno Gida join Azelis.

Financial details of the transaction have not been divulged.

Azelis Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) CEO Anna Bertona said: “Together, we will cover the main food applications markets, such as bakery, confectionery, ingredients and meat and fish. Furthermore, the acquisition of LCH immediately doubles the Azelis Nordic Food business, making us a leading food distributor in the region.”

LCH sells functional ingredients and its own blends to the Danish food sector, including the bakery segment.

Its products include organic, preservative-free and protein-rich ingredients and mixes.

LCH CEO Gert Schnoor said: “Azelis and LCH share the same values, as well as a focus on innovation, value creation and growth through relationships with carefully selected partners.

“We are truly satisfied with the deal, since it clearly opens up new opportunities for the LCH team and will allow our business model to expand into new territories. We will become part of a larger, strong, international organisation that offers greater development opportunities on many fronts.”

Schnoor will become the new managing director for the combined Azelis Nordic organisation, replacing Andrew Johnson. The latter will now move to the UK.

The acquisition of LCH has secured the commitment of Azelis major shareholders.