What Natara does

Natara is an independent global B2B manufacturer of speciality aroma chemicals and natural extracts serving the flavour and fragrance (F&F) industry. The business traces its origins to 1933 as Frutarom, was acquired by IFF in 2018, and in 2023 was carved out and acquired by European private equity firm Exponent, under which it now operates under the Natara brand. The company manufactures and supplies over 1,000 specialty ingredients through three core offerings: the F&F Product Compendium (a flagship catalogue of aroma chemicals and natural extracts), the Taste'Well F&B botanical extract range targeting the food and beverage wellness segment, and Contract Manufacturing services for C&F and CPG customers. Reported customer relationships span 20 years with 9 of the top 10 F&F industry customers.

The company operates four manufacturing sites in Hartlepool and Teesside (United Kingdom), Cincinnati (United States), and Pucheng (China), giving it a multi-continent production footprint for supply continuity and regional regulatory compliance. Manufacturing capabilities include wiped film evaporation, high vacuum fractional distillation, multi-stage reactions (Grignard, Aldol, Pyrazine, Esterification), micro-channel oxidation, distillation, extraction, compounding, and falling film evaporation. The Hartlepool plant is specialised in sulphur and heterocyclics, with proprietary purification know-how for flavour-grade Sulphurol and over 30 years of leadership in Grapefruit Mercaptan. Certifications include ISO 9001:2015, SQF, SEDEX, FDA GRAS for select products, and ongoing alignment with Science Based Targets initiatives.

The business model is sales-led B2B, with regional commercial vice presidents covering the Americas, Europe (including strategic accounts), and Asia (Singapore), and the company explicitly does not sell to retailers. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is handled via direct sales engagement ([email protected]). Headcount is over 350 specialists with approximately 3,000 years of combined industry experience. Recent investments include a multi-million pound Hartlepool capacity expansion increasing production volume by 40% from Q3 2024, ongoing Phase II expansion at Pucheng, and a 2025 cash bid (later outbid) to acquire Treatt plc. A CEO transition occurred in March 2026, with Chairman Paul Forman assuming interim CEO duties.

Name

Natara

Legal name

Flavour Speciality Ingredients Limited

Website

https://natara-global.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Natara is an independent global B2B manufacturer of over 1,000 specialty aroma chemicals and natural extracts for the flavour and fragrance industry, operating four manufacturing sites across the UK, US, and China under Exponent private equity ownership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Aroma Chemicals and Natural Extracts

NAICS

Flavoring Syrup and Concentrate Manufacturing (311930)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Flavors, Fragrances & Aroma Chemicals (IMAEABAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Aroma Chemicals & Synthetic Flavor Ingredients (e.g., Vanillin, Esters, Aldehydes) (AFAJADAC)

Keywords

• Specialty aroma chemicals
• Natural flavour extracts
• Flavour and fragrance manufacturing
• Botanical extracts production
• Contract manufacturing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hartlepool

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Speciality Aroma Chemicals and Natural Extracts Sales: Natara manufactures and supplies over 1,000 speciality Aroma Chemicals and Natural Extracts around the world to flavour and fragrance companies. This is the core revenue stream.
2. Contract Manufacturing Services: Natara offers outsourced manufacture of ingredients for the flavour and fragrance and CPG industries, providing a cost-effective and secure solution for managing capacity and reducing complexity. Services include chemical synthesis and purification, botanical extract manufacture and blending, essential oil distillation, and bespoke blending.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Natara manufactures and supplies over 1,000 specialty Aroma Chemicals and Natural Extracts to the global flavour and fragrance industry from four manufacturing sites in the UK, US, and China. The company's offerings span three core lines: the F&F Product Compendium (a one-stop-shop catalogue for the flavour and fragrance industry), Taste'Well F&B Products (botanical extracts for the food and beverage wellness industry), and Contract Manufacturing services (outsourced chemical synthesis, purification, botanical extraction, essential oil distillation, and bespoke blending for F&F and CPG customers).

Product overview

Natara is a leading independent, global manufacturer of specialty Aroma Chemicals and Natural Extracts for the flavour and fragrance industry. The company operates three core product offerings: (1) the F&F Product Compendium - a comprehensive catalogue of over 1,000 specialty Aroma Chemicals and Natural Extracts serving as the one-stop-shop for the global flavour and fragrance industry; (2) Taste'Well F&B Products - a specialized range of botanical extracts designed for the food and beverage wellness industry featuring ingredients like Carob, Chamomile, Cocoa, Coffee, Fenugreek, Ginger with wellness associations including cardiovascular, immunity, calming, gut health, energy and anti-inflammation; and (3) Contract Manufacturing services offering outsourced manufacture of specialty ingredients including chemical synthesis, purification, botanical extraction and blending, essential oil distillation, and bespoke blending for the flavour, fragrance and CPG industries. The company maintains four global manufacturing sites in the UK, US, and China with over 350 experts worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• F&F Product Compendium The largest portfolio of specialty Aroma Chemicals and Natural Extracts for the global flavour and fragrance industry, serving as the one-stop-shop product catalogue containing over 1,000 specialty ingredients for global F&F houses.
• Taste'Well F&B Products A specialised range of unique plant extracts designed for the food and beverage wellness industry, featuring botanical extracts like Carob, Chamomile, Cocoa, Coffee, Fenugreek, and Ginger with wellness halo associations including cardiovascular, immunity, calming, and energy benefits.
• Contract Manufacturing Outsourced manufacture of specialty ingredients for the flavour, fragrance, and CPG industries, providing chemical synthesis and purification, botanical extract manufacture and blending, essential oil distillation, and bespoke blending services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% production volume increase at Hartlepool plant from new reactor vessels and distillation columns.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered regional.

• Caldic APACregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 30 September 2025Natara announces strategic partnership with Caldic APAC to strengthen Asia-Pacific presence. This partnership is designed to expand Natara's distribution and market reach in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Azelis AshapuraregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 29 September 2025Natara partners with Azelis Ashapura to expand distribution in India. This partnership extends Natara's reach into the Indian market through Azelis Ashapura's established distribution network.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Symrise: Major global flavour and fragrance manufacturer with a strong specialty aroma chemicals and natural ingredients portfolio. Directly comparable to Natara across products (aroma chemicals, natural extracts), customer base (top F&F houses), and B2B ingredient business model.
• Treatt: UK-listed natural extracts specialist focused on flavour and fragrance ingredients, particularly citrus, tea, and botanical extracts. Closely aligned with Natara's natural extracts business and was the subject of Natara's recent contested acquisition bid.
• Döhler: German family-owned producer of natural ingredients, flavours, colours and F&B solutions. Directly comparable to Natara across natural extracts, aroma chemicals and contract manufacturing for F&F and F&B customers; recently outbid Natara for Treatt.
• Robertet: French leader in natural raw materials for flavours, fragrances and aromatics with strong vertical integration into sourcing. Comparable to Natara in natural extract capabilities and specialty ingredient focus, serving the same top global F&F customers.
• Mane: French family-owned flavour and fragrance house with deep capabilities in natural ingredients and aroma chemicals. Operates a similar B2B ingredient model serving global F&F houses, with comparable emphasis on proprietary processes and long-term customer partnerships.
• T. Hasegawa: Japanese flavour manufacturer with significant specialty aroma chemicals and taste technology capabilities. Comparable to Natara as a focused, science-driven flavour ingredient supplier serving global FMCG and F&F customers.

Broad incumbents

• Givaudan: World's largest dedicated flavour and fragrance company with broad specialty ingredients, including aroma chemicals and naturals. Overlaps with Natara's product categories and top-tier F&F customer base, but at significantly greater scale and broader portfolio scope.
• International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): Global F&F leader and former parent of the Natara business (via Frutarom acquisition, 2018) until the 2023 carve-out. IFF continues to operate overlapping aroma chemicals and natural extract capabilities and competes directly with Natara for similar enterprise customers.
• DSM-Firmenich: Combined nutrition, health and F&F player formed by DSM's acquisition of Firmenich. Competes in specialty aroma chemicals, natural extracts and F&B wellness ingredients — categories directly adjacent to Natara's core and Taste'Well portfolios.

Emerging players

• Synergy Flavors: Specialty flavour manufacturer (owned by Associated British Foods) competing in extracts and flavour systems for F&B customers. A meaningful but smaller-scale F&F ingredient competitor whose product set and customer base partially overlap with Natara.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInuk.linkedin.com/company/natara-global

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Natara