LidoChem

What LidoChem does

LidoChem LLC is a privately held chemical raw materials distributor and specialty fertilizer manufacturer founded in 1981 and headquartered in Hazlet, New Jersey. The company operates two divisions: a Chemical Raw Materials Division distributing bulk and packaged surfactants (alkyl aryl sulphonates, alkyl ether sulphates, alkyl sulphates, sodium lauryl sulphate variants), chelating agents under the LidoQuest brand (EDTA, EDDHA, DTPA series), phosphates, caustic soda, and sodium percarbonate to industrial buyers in fertilizer, detergent, paint, water treatment, metal cleaning, and food processing; and the Performance Nutrition division, established in 1999, which produces eco-responsible specialty fertilizers, bio-pesticides, water-soluble NPK fertilizers (MAP, DAP, MKP, DKP), patented chelated micronutrient solutions, and the NutriSmart soil-inoculant line. Distribution is supported by owned warehouses in New Jersey, Illinois, and Florida, plus a national dealer network for agricultural products.

LidoChem's business model is a transactional distribution and resale operation with quote-based pricing on both bulk and packaged chemical SKUs. Go-to-market is sales-led with direct enterprise distribution to industrial customers and channel-partner distribution to agricultural growers and turf/ornamental end-users. Revenue mechanics are spread across at least six end-markets and two distinct product divisions, reducing single-segment exposure. The company is a member of the National Association of Chemical Distributors and an active participant in the Responsible Distribution Process, providing a baseline of compliance credibility relevant to industrial procurement.

On April 22, 2024, LidoChem was acquired by Valudor Products LLC in a transaction led by Monroe Capital LLC, with the combined entity operating under the Performance Nutrition brand. Terms were not disclosed. The acquisition reflects a strategic consolidation play in specialty chemical distribution and fertilizer manufacturing rather than a distressed sale, given the company's 40-plus year operating history and rank as the 60th largest U.S. chemical distributor.

Name

LidoChem

Legal name

LidoChem LLC

Website

https://lidochem.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LidoChem is a privately held U.S. chemical raw materials distributor and specialty fertilizer manufacturer serving fertilizer, detergent, food, paint, water treatment, and metal cleaning industries from distribution centers in NJ, IL, and FL.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Chemical Distribution

NAICS

Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (4246), Other Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (42469), Fertilizer and Compost Manufacturing (32531)

SIC

Wholesale-Chemicals & Allied Products (5160), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)

akta.pro primary industry

Commodity Surfactants & Detergent Base Chemicals (IMAEAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fertilizer & Micronutrient Formulations (NPK blends, chelates, suspensions) (AFABAIAB), NPK/Compound & Blended Fertilizers (Granular Blends, Bulk Blending) (AFABABAD), Chemicals & Petrochemicals (Non-Hazmat Specialized Handling) (TLAIALAJ)

Keywords

• Chemical distribution
• Specialty fertilizers
• Chelating agents
• Agricultural micronutrients
• Surfactant manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Hazlet

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Revenue model

1. Chemical Raw Materials Distribution: Distribution of chemical raw materials to specialty industries including fertilizer producers, detergent manufacturers, paint manufacturers, water treatment, metal cleaning, and food processing. Products include surfactants, chelating agents, phosphates, caustic soda, and sodium percarbonate.
2. Performance Nutrition Fertilizers: Development and distribution of specialty fertilizers, bio-pesticides, chelated micronutrients, soil amendments and turf management products through the Performance Nutrition division and local dealers nationwide.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

LidoChem LLC is a full-service bulk and packaged chemical raw materials distributor and specialty fertilizer manufacturer operating two divisions. The Chemical Raw Materials Division supplies surfactants, chelating agents (LidoQuest EDTA series), phosphates, caustic soda, and sodium percarbonate to specialty industries including food processing, paint manufacturing, metal treatment, water treatment, and detergent production. The Performance Nutrition division develops eco-responsible specialty agricultural products including bio-pesticides, patented chelated micronutrient solutions, water-soluble fertilizers, soil amendments, and the NutriSmart fertilizer line, distributed through a national dealer network.

Product overview

LidoChem is a chemical raw materials distributor and specialty fertilizer manufacturer operating two main divisions. The Chemical Raw Materials Division supplies surfactants (including alkyl aryl sulphonates, alkyl ether sulphates, alkyl sulphates, ammonium laureates, and sodium lauryl sulphate variants), chelating agents (LidoQuest EDTA series), phosphates, caustic soda, and sodium percarbonate to industries including food processing, paint manufacturing, metal treatment, water treatment, and detergent production. The Performance Nutrition division (established 1999) offers specialty agricultural products including bio-pesticides, patented chelated micronutrient solutions (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Ca, Mg EDTA and EDDHA chelates), water-soluble fertilizers (MAP, DAP, MKP, DKP in various NPK formulations), soil amendments, and the NutriSmart fertilizer line. LidoChem was acquired by Valudor Products in April 2024 and operates from distribution centers in New Jersey, Illinois, and Florida.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Performance Nutrition: Specialty performance products division developing eco-responsible agricultural products including bio-pesticides, patented chelated micronutrient solutions, specialty fertilizers, soil amendments and fertilizer additives.
• LidoQuest
• NutriSmart

Products and services

• LidoQuest Acid EDTA
• LidoQuest Na2 EDTA
• LidoQuest Na4 EDTA
• LidoQuest Ca 10% EDTA
• LidoQuest Cu 15% EDTA
• LidoQuest Fe 13% EDTA
• LidoQuest Fe 6% EDDHA 50%
• LidoQuest Fe 6% EDDHA 80%
• LidoQuest Fe DTPA 7%
• LidoQuest Fe DTPA 11%
• LidoQuest Mn 13% EDTA
• LidoQuest Zn 15% EDTA
• Tetrapotassium Pyrophosphate
• Dipotassium Phosphate
• Disodium Phosphate
• Monoammonium Phosphate
• Monopotassium Phosphate
• Monosodium Phosphate
• Diammonium Phosphate
• Potassium Tripolyphosphate
• Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate
• Sodium Tripolyphosphate
• Sodium Percarbonate
• Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (Needles and Powders)
• Sodium Dodecylbenzene Sulphonate Flakes
• Ufaryl Alkyl Aryl Sulphonate Flakes (DL 85, DL 85 CJ, DL 90C)
• Ungerol Alkyl Ether Sulphate LES-370

Quantifiable outcome

• LidoChem won a $12 million court case in 2014 against Stoller Enterprises for Lanham Act violations, demonstrating brand integrity and market position.

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UngercoreTechnology or IntegrationLidochem represents the Unger line of Surfactants. Unger manufactures and exports a wide variety of surfactant raw materials applied in household detergents, personal care and institutional products, as well as functional additives for industrial applications worldwide.
• National Association of Chemical DistributorsminorOthersLidoChem is a member of the National Association of Chemical Distributors and an active participant in the Responsible Distribution Process, ensuring high safety and quality control standards.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Brenntag SE: Global market leader in chemical distribution with full-line distribution of surfactants, chelating agents, phosphates, and specialty ingredients. Operates as a broad incumbent across all of LidoChem's core product lines (food, ag, personal care, industrial cleaning) but at vastly greater scale; relevant benchmark for industry structure and M&A trends.
• Univar Solutions: Major North American chemical distributor supplying surfactants, phosphates, chelating agents, and other specialty ingredients to industrial and agricultural customers. Comparable to LidoChem in serving overlapping end-markets (detergent, food, water treatment, ag) but with much larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
• IMCD N.V. Global specialty chemicals and ingredients distributor with strong presence in food, personal care, and industrial cleaning — overlapping directly with LidoChem's surfactant and chelating agent lines. Operates as a broad incumbent expanding through acquisition; relevant peer for distribution-model economics and growth strategy.
• Azelis Group: Global specialty ingredients distributor with deep coverage in personal care, home care, and food ingredients — the same downstream categories LidoChem serves through its surfactant portfolio. Comparable in business model (value-added specialty distribution) but with significantly larger international footprint.

Direct peers

• Hawkins, Inc. US-based mid-tier specialty chemical distributor serving food, pharmaceutical, agricultural, and industrial customers with water treatment chemicals and specialty ingredients. Closest in size, end-market mix, and geographic focus to LidoChem; competes for similar regional and industrial accounts.
• Helena Agri-Enterprises: US-based agronomic distributor offering crop protection, fertilizers, and specialty nutrition products through a dealer network — directly comparable to LidoChem's Performance Nutrition division's go-to-market model with local dealers for crop inputs.
• The Andersons, Inc. North American ag retailer and specialty fertilizer distributor with an established dealer network serving row crop and specialty crop customers. Comparable to LidoChem's Performance Nutrition side in the agricultural channel and fertilizer distribution, though broader in grain and ethanol.

Emerging players

• Nachurs (Koch Agronomic Services): Liquid fertilizer manufacturer focused on specialty crop nutrition and in-furrow starters — partial overlap with LidoChem's water-soluble fertilizer portfolio and Performance Nutrition chelate/micronutrient line for specialty growers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 LidoChem