KIC

What KIC does

KIC Chemicals, Inc. is a privately held chemical distribution company founded in 1985 and headquartered in Poughkeepsie, New York, with a 33-acre operations and bulk Kosher packaging facility in New Paltz, NY. The company distributes a broad catalog of commodity and specialty chemicals — including glycerin, fatty acids (C-6 through C-22 plus blends), glycols (propylene, dipropylene, and ethylene), specialty ingredients (sweeteners, acids, preservatives, vitamins, gums, excipients), and various oils (castor, coconut, essential, olive, soybean) — in USP/FCC food-pharma, Kosher, and industrial grades. KIC became one of the first U.S. chemical distributors to earn ISO registration in 1995 and holds RSPO certification (License No. 2-0885-18-000-00) for sustainable palm-derived products.

The company generates revenue primarily through one-time product sales distributed via its own network of agents, distributors, and suppliers, with stocking locations across the USA and Europe enabling worldwide fulfillment. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; in February 2017 KIC issued its first formal price-increase letter (Glycerin +$0.05/LB, Propylene Glycol +$0.10/LB). A secondary revenue stream comes from logistical planning, marketing strategy, and consulting services offered to industrial buyers in addition to product distribution. KIC's primary customer segment is industrial manufacturers requiring chemical raw materials for food, pharmaceutical, personal care, and general chemical processing use cases.

KIC is family-led, with Ed Kort serving as President since founding and Eric Kort as Senior Vice President, and operates with 11-50 employees. Distribution channels include a direct sales network plus stocking-distributor partnerships, supported by a basic website (kicgroup.com), email/contact-form inquiries ([email protected]), and modest social media presence. The company has accumulated compliance and industry credentials over its 40-year history: NACD membership since 2005, the 2015 NACD Responsible Distribution Excellence Award, NYS DOSH safety recognition since 2013, and ISO registration since 1995.

Name

KIC

Legal name

KIC Chemicals, Inc.

Website

https://kicgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KIC Chemicals, Inc. is a privately held, family-led distributor of commodity and specialty chemicals — including glycerin, fatty acids, glycols, and food/pharma-grade ingredients — serving industrial manufacturers across food, pharmaceutical, personal care, and chemical processing markets worldwide since 1985.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New Paltz

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Chemical Product Distribution: KIC distributes a wide variety of chemical products including glycerin, fatty acids, glycols, and other ingredients. Revenue is generated through product sales with various pack sizes and purities available.
2. Consulting Services: KIC offers logistical services and planning as well as marketing strategies and consulting services to industries in addition to their merchandise distribution services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

KIC Chemicals, Inc. is a B2B distributor of industrial and food-grade chemical products, including glycerin (USP/FCC and Industrial grades), fatty acids (C-6 through C-22), glycols (propylene, dipropylene, ethylene), specialty ingredients (sweeteners, preservatives, acids, vitamins, gums), and various oils. The company sources from a global network of agents, distributors, and suppliers and serves industrial manufacturers across the USA, Europe, and worldwide, with stocking locations on both continents. In addition to merchandise distribution, KIC offers logistical services and planning, as well as marketing strategies and consulting services to industries.

Product overview

KIC Chemicals is a chemical distribution company that offers a diverse portfolio of industrial and food-grade chemicals. The core product lines include Glycerin (USP/FCC and Industrial grades in multiple purities from 48% to 99.7%), Fatty Acids (C-6 to C-22 series including Caproic, Caprylic, Capric, Lauric, Myristic, Palmitic, Stearic, Oleic, Erucic, and Behenic acids plus blends), Glycols (Propylene Glycol, DiPropylene Glycol, and Ethylene Glycol in various grades), a comprehensive range of specialty ingredients (sweeteners, acids, preservatives, vitamins, gums, and excipients), and various Oils (Castor, Coconut, Essential, Olive, Soybean, and others). The company provides these products with services including custom packaging, flexible ordering options, and RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Glycerin USP/FCC and Industrial grade glycerin in multiple purities (99.7%, 96%, 67%, 50%, 48%) and pack size options for industrial, food, and pharmaceutical manufacturers.
• Fatty Acids Full range of fatty acids including Caproic (C-6), Caprylic (C-8), Capric (C-10), Lauric (C-12), Myristic (C-14), Palmitic (C-16), Stearic (C-18), Oleic (C-18:1), Erucic (C-20), Behenic (C-22) acids, and a Caprylic/Capric 60/40 blend, supplied to industrial manufacturers.
• Glycols Propylene Glycol (USP and Industrial Grades), DiPropylene Glycol (Fragrance and Industrial Grades), and Ethylene Glycol (with or without rust inhibitors) for industrial and heat-transfer applications.
• Specialty Ingredients Wide range of specialty ingredients including sweeteners (Acesulfame-K, Aspartame, Xylitol, Sorbitol), acids (Adipic, Ascorbic, Benzoic, Citric, Fumaric, Lactic, Succinic, Sorbic), preservatives (Methyl/Propyl Paraben, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate), vitamins (Ascorbic Acid, Calcium Ascorbate), gums (Guar, Gum Tragacanth, Xanthan, Pectin), and excipients for food, pharmaceutical, and personal care manufacturers.
• Oils Various oils including Castor Oils/Derivatives, Citronella Oil 85/35, Coconut Oils, Essential Oils, Eucalyptus Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Olive Oil, Safflower Oil, Sesame Seed Oil, Soybean Oil, Toasted Sesame Oil, and Wheat Germ Oil for industrial, food, and personal care manufacturers.
• RSPO-Certified Sustainable Palm Oil Products Chemical products carrying RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) certification, available upon request for customers seeking sustainably sourced palm-derived ingredients.
• Logistics and Marketing Consulting Services Logistical services and planning plus marketing strategies and consulting services offered to industries in addition to KIC's merchandise distribution services.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIC offers RSPO-certified products (License No. 2-0885-18-000-00) available upon request, supporting sustainable palm oil sourcing in their distribution network.
• NACD (National Association of Chemical Distributors)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIC has been a member of NACD since 2005 and received the Responsible Distribution Excellence Award. NACD membership demonstrates commitment to responsible distribution principles and industry standards.
• New York Division of Safety and Health (NYS DOSH)minorOthersKIC began working with NYS DOSH On-Site Consultation Program in 2012 and was admitted into their recognition program in 2013. The program helps lower workplace injury and illness rates.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Barentz: Global specialty ingredients distributor covering food, personal care, pharma, and animal nutrition with a heavy emphasis on oleochemicals (fatty acids, glycerin), overlapping directly with KIC's core lines.
• Acme-Hardesty: US-based distributor of oleochemicals (fatty acids, glycerin, specialty esters) and natural ingredients, headquartere in the Northeast and serving food/personal care/pharma — a very close comparable to KIC's portfolio and geography.
• ICC Chemical: Specialty chemical distributor focused on industrial and life-science chemicals with global sourcing; comparable mid-sized player with overlapping specialty chemical lines.
• Charkit Chemical: US-based specialty chemical distributor serving personal care, food, and pharma with a comparable mid-market, niche-focused profile similar to KIC.
• Connell Bros (Wilbur-Ellis): Wilbur-Ellis's specialty chemicals and ingredients division distributing food-grade and industrial chemicals across Asia-Pacific and the Americas; comparable in product mix to KIC.

Emerging players

• Rèmy Industries: Niche specialty ingredients distributor with focus on natural and sustainable raw materials (oils, glycerin, fatty acids), overlapping KIC's RSPO-certified and natural/vegetable-based product positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Azelis: Global specialty distributor for food, personal care, pharma, and industrial markets; similar product overlap (glycols, fatty acids, acids, preservatives) but broader international footprint.
• Brenntag: Global market leader in chemical and ingredients distribution with deep specialty/food-grade portfolios; competes with KIC indirectly through its life sciences and ingredients segments.
• IMCD Group: Specialty chemicals and ingredients distributor with strong food, personal care, and pharma presence globally; competes in overlapping categories (citric acid, glycerin, fatty acids) but with greater reach and resources.
• Univar Solutions: One of the largest North American chemical distributors with broad industrial and specialty chemical lines serving similar end markets as KIC, but at vastly larger scale and product breadth.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kic-chemicals-inc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 KIC