TLC Ingredients

What TLC Ingredients does

TLC Ingredients, Inc. is a privately held, B2B wholesale distributor of food ingredients, industrial chemicals, and specialty phenolic resins, founded in 2001 and headquartered in Crest Hill, Illinois. The company operates from a 90,000 square foot GFSI-certified warehouse (expanded in 2021 from the original 40,000 square foot facility built in 2009) with temperature-controlled and segregated flammable storage, distributing nationwide from its Midwest logistics hub. It holds two strategically significant exclusivity agreements: the US Master Distributorship for pHase® Sodium Acid Sulfate (Jones-Hamilton) — a dry granular food acid with acrylamide-reduction and clean-label applications — and the North American Distributorship for Durez phenolic resins (Sumitomo Bakelite), covering 300+ specialty resin formulations used in rubber, adhesives, coatings, abrasives, and friction materials.

The company's portfolio spans four primary verticals — food and beverage manufacturing, pet food and animal wellness, industrial chemicals, and phenolic resins — supplied through an ecosystem of roughly 18 manufacturer partnerships including ADM, ICL, Prayon, Hawkins, ROHA, BUNZL/JBL, Niusource, and Chemtrade. Customers are mid-market and enterprise food processors, pet food manufacturers and co-packers, and industrial chemical formulators across meat processing, dairy, bakery, snack, beverage, nutritional/feed, personal care, water treatment, adhesives, coatings, and metal treatment applications. Differentiators include IFS Logistics Higher Level certification, FSMA compliance, ACD Responsible Distribution Excellence recognition (2020), and over 20 years of compounding technical and regulatory expertise held by founders Tommy Turriff (President) and Pete Lorusso (VP of Sales & Marketing).

TLC Ingredients generates revenue through buy-and-resale distribution margin on ingredient and chemical volume. Pricing is quote-based per inquiry, with no public list pricing, no subscription tiers, and no minimum order limits. Go-to-market is direct, sales-led B2B distribution — consultative account management for enterprise accounts with technical formulation and logistics coordination support, supplemented by SEO-optimized website content, an educational blog, and industry association participation (ACD, NACD, CD&CA) for inbound lead generation and referral. The company does not sell through retail, e-commerce, or third-party marketplaces.

Name

TLC Ingredients

Legal name

TLC Ingredients, Inc.

Website

https://tlcingredients.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TLC Ingredients is a B2B wholesale distributor of food ingredients, industrial chemicals, and specialty phenolic resins serving mid-market and enterprise food, pet food, and industrial manufacturers across the United States from a 90,000 square foot GFSI-certified warehouse in Crest Hill, Illinois.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chemical & Food Ingredients Distribution

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Chemicals, Ingredients & Raw Materials Marketplaces (CRAFAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Natural/Organic & Limited-Ingredient Diets (CRADAFAH), Preservatives & Antimicrobials (Sorbates, Benzoates, Natamycin, Cultured Dextrose) (CRADAOAF)

Keywords

• Food ingredients distribution
• Industrial chemicals distribution
• Phenolic resins distribution
• Specialty food additives
• B2B chemical distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Crest Hill

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Food & Industrial Ingredient Distribution: TLC Ingredients generates revenue through the distribution and resale of food ingredients, industrial chemicals, and phenolic resins to food, pet food, and industrial manufacturing customers. The company purchases products from manufacturers and sells to end customers, earning margins on product sales. Revenue is driven by product volume, product mix, and the breadth of the supplier network.
2. Durez Phenolic Resins Distribution: As the North American distributor for Durez Corporation (part of Sumitomo Bakelite), TLC Ingredients distributes over 300 specialty phenolic resin products used in adhesives, specialty coatings, abrasives, rubber, and friction industries, generating revenue through distribution margin on these specialty products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

TLC Ingredients is a wholesale B2B distributor of food ingredients, industrial chemicals, and phenolic resins, operating from a 90,000 sq ft GFSI-certified facility in Crest Hill, Illinois. The company sources products from over 18 manufacturers and resells them to food, pet food, and industrial manufacturing customers across the United States. TLC holds exclusive US Master Distributorship for pHase (Jones-Hamilton Sodium Acid Sulfate) and North American distributorship for Durez phenolic resins (Sumitomo Bakelite).

Product overview

TLC Ingredients is a wholesale food ingredients and industrial chemicals distributor established in 2001, operating from a 90,000 square foot GFSI-certified facility in Crest Hill, Illinois. The company distributes a portfolio of products centered around three main offerings: (1) pHase® (Sodium Acid Sulfate), a proprietary food acidifier for pH adjustment, acrylamide reduction, and food preservation; (2) Durez Phenolic Resins from Sumitomo Bakelite for industrial applications; and (3) an extensive range of food ingredients including acidulants, emulsifiers, preservatives, humectants, phosphates, and specialty chemicals serving meat processing, dairy, bakery, beverages, sauces, nutritional, feed, pet food, and industrial sectors. The company also distributes propylene glycol in both petroleum-based and bio-based formulations, industrial water treatment chemicals, personal care ingredients, and adhesives/coatings/inks/metal treatment chemicals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Durez: Phenolic resins distributed by TLC Ingredients as the North American distributor for Durez Corporation, part of the Sumitomo Bakelite portfolio. Used in adhesives, specialty coatings, abrasives, rubber, and friction industries.

Products and services

• Food Ingredients Distribution Wholesale distribution of food ingredients including acidulants, emulsifiers, preservatives, humectants, gums/thickeners, phosphates, encapsulated ingredients, and specialty chemicals for meat processing, dairy, bakery, beverages, sauces, nutritional, and feed applications. Serves food and beverage manufacturers across diverse categories.
• Pet Food Ingredients Distribution High-quality pet food ingredients supporting innovation, safety, and performance, including functional additives, preservatives, proteins, fibers, starches, and specialty ingredients for dry kibble, wet food, treats, supplements, and functional pet nutrition products. Serves pet food manufacturers, co-packers, and nutrition brands.
• Industrial Chemicals Distribution Distribution of specialty and commodity industrial chemicals including products for household, industrial and institutional cleaning, water treatment, personal care products, adhesives, specialty coatings, inks, metal treatment, and corrosion inhibition.
• pHase (Sodium Acid Sulfate) A dry granular food acid used as a food ingredient and acidifier. It lowers pH at low addition rates without generating a sour taste, and offers acrylamide reduction (up to 60%), enzymatic browning prevention, sweetener reduction (up to 15%), salt reduction (up to 40%), and antimicrobial preservation. FDA-approved for clean-label labeling as Sodium Bisulfate, Bisulfate of Soda, or Sodium Acid Sulfate.
• Durez Phenolic Resins High-performance specialty phenolic resins distributed by TLC Ingredients as part of the Sumitomo Bakelite portfolio. Durez offers over 300 distinct phenolic resins used in rubber, adhesives, specialty coatings, abrasives, and friction industries. Includes both standard and customized high-performance resin products.
• Industrial Water Treatment Chemicals Chemical products for industrial water treatment including boiler and cooling tower treatment chemicals, pool and spa chemicals, corrosion inhibitors, acids, alkalis, amines, chelating agents, enzymes, glycols, and sulfites.
• Personal Care Ingredients Ingredients for personal care products including hair care, skin care, oral care, and cosmetics. Categories include antifoams, chelants, emulsifiers, fatty acids, glycerin, humectants, hydrogen peroxide, pH adjusters, preservatives, propylene glycol, silicones, surfactants, and thickeners.
• Adhesives, Coatings, Inks & Metal Treatment Chemicals Industrial chemical products for adhesives (starch and pressure-sensitive), specialty coatings, inks and printing materials, metal treatment, and corrosion inhibitors. Includes acids, alkalis, amines, antifoams, borates, chelating agents, emulsifiers, glycols, phosphates, phosphonates, preservatives, and phenolic resins.
• Propylene Glycol Propylene glycol (USP/FCC grade) available in both petroleum-based and bio-based formulations. Used as humectant, solvent for flavorings and colorings, food additive, and cryoprotectant in food applications; and in antifreezes, de-icing fluids, heat transfer fluids, and industrial solvents. Bio-based option offers 61% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
• Citric Acid Citric acid ingredient used to maintain freshness in canned and packaged foods, balance acids in food and beverages, extend shelf life, and as a cleaning agent for removing toxins and bacteria.
• Lactic Acid Versatile chemical used in food and personal care applications, distributed with a focus on safety and quality sourcing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 88% of food items sold are manufactured in the United States, with all foreign suppliers holding GFSI certification
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and supporting.

• Durez Corporation (Sumitomo Bakelite)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTLC Ingredients serves as the North American distributor for Durez Corporation, an integral part of the Sumitomo Bakelite High-Performance Plastics business unit. TLC distributes Durez's extensive portfolio of over 300 specialty phenolic resins used in adhesives, specialty coatings, abrasives, rubber, and friction industries. The partnership provides access to both standard and customized high-performance resin products.
• ADMkeyTechnology or IntegrationADM supplies bio-based propylene glycol, glycerin, lecithin, and other corn-derived ingredients to TLC Ingredients. Bio-based propylene glycol offers a 61% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to petroleum-based alternatives, supporting sustainability-focused product positioning.
• ICLkeyTechnology or IntegrationICL is a key supplier of phosphates and phosphoric acid to TLC Ingredients, used in food, industrial, and cleaning product formulations. ICL's phosphate products support water softening, stain removal, and pH adjustment in various manufacturing applications.
• Jones-HamiltoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTLC Ingredients is the US Master Distributor for Jones-Hamilton's pHase Sodium Acid Sulfate, a dry granular food acid with unique properties including acrylamide reduction, enzymatic browning prevention, and clean-label labeling options. TLC holds an exclusive master distributorship for this product in the US market.
• PrayonkeyTechnology or IntegrationPrayon is a key supplier of phosphate products to TLC Ingredients, offering high-quality phosphate ingredients for cleaning product formulations, industrial applications, and food processing. Prayon's products are noted for meeting modern environmental standards.
• BUNZL (JBL)keyTechnology or IntegrationBUNZL/JBL supplies specialty ingredients including erythritol, lactic acid, specialty gluconates, and xanthan gum to TLC Ingredients for distribution to food and industrial manufacturers.
• NiusourcekeyTechnology or IntegrationNiusource supplies a broad range of artificial and natural sweeteners to TLC Ingredients, including Ace-K, Allulose, Aspartame, Monkfruit, Sodium Saccharin, Stevia, Sucralose, and Xylitol for food, beverage, and nutritional applications.
• ROHAkeyTechnology or IntegrationROHA supplies FD&C colors and natural colors to TLC Ingredients, serving food and beverage manufacturers requiring food coloring solutions.
• Ivanhoe IndustriessupportingTechnology or IntegrationIvanhoe Industries assists TLC Ingredients' customers in formulating products using vegetable-derived sorbitol and glycerin-based emulsifiers, as well as non-silicone defoamers from vegetable oils, supporting clean-label and environmentally friendlier product formulations.
• HawkinskeyTechnology or IntegrationHawkins supplies liquid food ingredients including antimicrobials, benzoates, buffered vinegar, lactates, phosphates, and sorbates to TLC Ingredients. Hawkins also offers clean-label, next-generation antimicrobials enabling significant sodium reduction without negative flavor impact.
• Third Wave BioactivessupportingTechnology or IntegrationThird Wave Bioactives provides a range of fermentates derived from natural ingredients to extend shelf life and control yeast, mold, and spoilage organisms in food applications.
• GS-DunnsupportingTechnology or IntegrationGS-Dunn (Mustard Mill) supplies mustard in various forms including seed, ground, flour, and deactivated mustard for food processing and seasoning applications.
• Tierra GroupsupportingTechnology or IntegrationTierra Group supplies agave nectar and inulin to TLC Ingredients for use in food, beverage, and nutritional applications requiring natural sweeteners and dietary fiber.
• PHS Life SciencessupportingTechnology or IntegrationPHS Life Sciences supplies encapsulated ingredients to TLC Ingredients, enabling controlled-release and stabilized ingredient delivery in food and supplement formulations.
• BenexiasupportingTechnology or IntegrationBenexia supplies natural fiber, functional fats and oils, plant-based protein, bakery premixes, and seeds to TLC Ingredients for food and nutritional applications.
• ChemtradesupportingTechnology or IntegrationChemtrade supplies sodium nitrite to TLC Ingredients, used in meat processing and industrial applications.
• PMPsupportingTechnology or IntegrationPMP supplies glucono-delta-lactone (GDL), malic acid, and sodium gluconate to TLC Ingredients for food acidulant and chelating applications.
• ResolutesupportingTechnology or IntegrationResolute supplies white/mineral oils to TLC Ingredients for use in food, personal care, and industrial formulations requiring food-grade oils.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hawkins, Inc. Hawkins is a US-based specialty chemical distributor serving food, health, and industrial end markets with similar product categories (acidulants, phosphates, preservatives) and a comparable blend of bulk distribution and formulation support. Listed on NYSE, it is the closest publicly traded analog to TLC Ingredients.
• Barentz International: Global specialty food ingredients and life sciences distributor with a portfolio comparable to TLC's, focused on pet food, food, personal care, and industrial segments via exclusive principal partnerships. Strong direct competitor in specialty distribution.
• Azelis Group: Global specialty ingredients distributor serving food, personal care, pharma, and industrial markets. Operates with exclusive principal partnerships and technical sales support model very similar to TLC Ingredients.
• IMCD N.V. Global specialty chemicals and food ingredients distributor with a similar principal-partnership and technical-sales model. Active across food, pet food, personal care, and industrial segments overlapping with TLC's portfolio.
• Penta Manufacturing Company: US-based specialty manufacturer and distributor of food ingredients, flavors, and fine chemicals. Comparable focus on proprietary/specialty ingredients and B2B sales to food and industrial manufacturers, though more vertically integrated as a manufacturer.

Broad incumbents

• Brenntag SE: Global market leader in chemical distribution with substantial food ingredients and specialty chemicals operations across North America. Operates as a broad incumbent in the same distribution channels TLC serves but at vastly larger scale.
• Univar Solutions: Major North American chemical and ingredients distributor serving food, pet food, personal care, and industrial markets with extensive nationwide warehousing. Significantly larger and broader than TLC, but overlapping in food and industrial chemical distribution.
• Ingredion Incorporated: Major ingredient solutions provider serving food, beverage, and animal nutrition manufacturers. As both a producer and distributor of specialty food ingredients, Ingredion sits adjacent to TLC as a major supply-chain counterparty and competitor for ingredient share of wallet.
• Innophos Holdings: Leading North American producer of specialty phosphates serving food, beverage, and industrial markets. Functions as a key upstream supplier of phosphate ingredients to TLC while also competing for end-customer relationships with direct distribution capability.

Regional players

• Connell Brothers (Wilbur-Ellis): Specialty ingredients and chemicals distribution arm of Wilbur-Ellis, primarily Asia-Pacific but with global principal partnerships. Comparable product portfolio in food, personal care, and industrial chemicals, but operates predominantly outside TLC's US Midwest home market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tlcingredients

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about TLC Ingredients