LBG Sicilia Ingredients

What LBG Sicilia Ingredients does

LBG Sicilia Ingredients Srl is a privately held, family-owned Italian specialty ingredient manufacturer headquartered in Ragusa, Sicily. Founded in 1998 with the planting of a 5,000-tree experimental carob plantation, the company has built a vertically integrated operation spanning upstream carob cultivation, carob kibbling, locust bean gum (LBG) production, blending, and a dedicated ~1,000 sqm R&D center established in 2013. Its core technology is a proprietary chemical-free thermomechanical decortication process for extracting and refining locust bean gum from Ceratonia siliqua seeds, with a stated installed production capacity of 7,000 tonnes per year and pharmaceutical-grade batch precision (50g tolerance per 1-tonne batch).

The company sells a portfolio of nine registered product lines — SEEDGUM (locust bean gum), SOLPECTIN (citrus pectin), SOLGUAR (guar gum), SOLMIX (bespoke functional stabilizer systems for ice cream, dairy, sauces, and fruit preparations), SOLCHOC (carob-based cocoa replacer), SEEDPRO (carob plant protein), SEEDFIBER (carob fiber), SOLCITRIC (citrus fiber), and SYFRUIT (carob syrup sweetener) — serving food, beverage, and pet food manufacturers across approximately 90 countries. GTM is enterprise B2B direct sales conducted by a team of functional food specialists who provide formulation and application support, with pricing conducted via quote-based bulk B2B contracts.

Revenue is generated through one-time bulk ingredient sales of standard and certified-organic SKUs, with no software, licensing, or recurring SaaS component. The customer base spans ice cream, dairy, dairy alternatives, sauces and dressings, bakery, jelly and fruit, protein bars, vegan, cocoa replacer, and pet food applications, and the company holds an extensive certification stack including BRC, ISO 22000, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, Kosher, Halal, Organic, Vegan, EcoVadis Silver, SEDEX, and GMP+. The company is led by founder Giancarlo Licitra. No external investors, M&A, or funding rounds are disclosed in the source data.

Name

LBG Sicilia Ingredients

Legal name

LBG Sicilia Srl

Website

https://lbg.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LBG Sicilia Ingredients is a privately held, family-owned Italian specialty ingredient manufacturer that produces chemical-free locust bean gum, pectin, guar, carob protein/fiber/syrup, and bespoke stabilizer systems from its Ragusa, Sicily facility, supplying food, beverage, and pet food manufacturers in 90 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Ingredients

NAICS

Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFAJACAF

Hydrocolloid Stabilizers (Xanthan, Guar, Locust Bean, Carrageenan, Alginate, Pectin, Cellulose)

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Ingredients & Additives/Emulsifiers & Stabilizers (Lecithin, Mono/Diglycerides, Stabilizer Systems)

SECONDARYCRADAOAD

Hydrocolloids, Thickeners & Gelling Agents (Pectin, Xanthan, Carrageenan, Gelatin)

Consumer Products & Retail/Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Manufacturing & Brands/CPG Ingredients, Flavorings & Additives Brands

SECONDARYAFAJAMAK

Stabilizer & Texturizer Systems/Blends (Custom Hydrocolloid Blends, Application-Specific Systems)

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Ingredients & Additives/Texturizers (Thickeners & Stabilizers)

SECONDARYCRADAOAO

Ingredient Blends & Systems / Custom Formulation (Seasoning Systems, Functional Blends)

Consumer Products & Retail/Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Manufacturing & Brands/CPG Ingredients, Flavorings & Additives Brands

Keywords

• Food ingredients supply
• Locust bean gum
• Natural stabilizers thickeners
• Functional food systems
• Carob based ingredients

Headquarters

HQ city

Ragusa

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Natural Food Ingredients B2B Sales: LBG Sicilia generates revenue through B2B sales of natural functional ingredients to food and beverage manufacturers worldwide. The company sells directly to producers of ice cream, dairy, sauces, bakery products, and pet food. Revenue streams include locust bean gum, guar gum, pectin, functional stabilizer systems, carob fiber, carob protein, carob syrup, and cocoa replacers. The company offers both standard and certified organic versions of products.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

LBG Sicilia Ingredients produces and commercializes 100% natural, plant-based functional food ingredients derived primarily from carob (Ceratonia siliqua) and citrus sources, including locust bean gum (SEEDGUM), pectin (SOLPECTIN), guar gum (SOLGUAR), carob protein (SEEDPRO), carob fiber (SEEDFIBER), citrus fiber (SOLCITRIC), cocoa replacer (SOLCHOC), and carob sweetener (SYFRUIT). The SOLMIX functional systems line delivers custom-designed stabilizer and texturizing blends combining emulsifiers and hydrocolloids for specific food applications. All products are sold B2B to food and beverage manufacturers across 90 countries, with the company operating its own carob plantation, production facilities, and R&D center in Ragusa, Sicily.

Product overview

LBG Sicilia Ingredients operates as a global supplier of functional food ingredients, specializing in 100% natural, plant-based products derived primarily from carob (Ceratonia siliqua) and citrus sources. The product portfolio centers on SEEDGUM® (locust bean gum), complemented by SOLPECTIN™ (citrus pectin) and SOLGUAR™ (guar gum) as core texturizing ingredients. The SOLMIX® functional systems line provides customized stabilization and texturization solutions combining emulsifiers, hydrocolloids, and functional ingredients for specific applications including ice cream, dairy, sauces, and fruit preparations. Additional products include SOLCHOC™ (carob-based cocoa replacer), SEEDPRO® (carob protein), SEEDFIBER™ (carob fiber), SOLCITRIC™ (citrus fiber), and SYFRUIT® (carob sweetener). Products serve both food & beverage and pet food markets across ice cream, dairy, dairy alternatives, jelly & fruit, dressings & sauces, bakery, vegan, and protein applications. The company emphasizes chemical-free processing and sustainability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SEEDGUM: 100% natural locust bean gum (carob seed flour), recognized internationally for its light color, speck-free appearance, and high viscosity. Used as a stabilizer, thickener, and texture improver in food applications.
• SOLPECTIN
• SOLGUAR
• SOLMIX
• SOLCHOC
• SEEDPRO
• SEEDFIBER
• SOLCITRIC
• SYFRUIT

Products and services

• SEEDGUM® (Locust Bean Gum) SEEDGUM® is 100% natural locust bean gum (carob seed flour) derived from Ceratonia siliqua seeds through a chemical-free thermomechanical decortication process. Recognized internationally for its light color, speck-free appearance, and high viscosity, it is supplied to food and beverage manufacturers as a thickening and stabilizing agent for frozen desserts, dairy, jelly and fruit preparations, sauces, and bakery applications, and is also available in a dedicated pet food grade.
• SOLPECTIN™ (Pectin) SOLPECTIN™ is a standardized pectin derived from citrus fruit peels, supplied to food, beverage, and dairy manufacturers as a natural gelling, thickening, and stabilizing agent. Available in HM (high methoxyl) and LM (low methoxyl) varieties, it is used in jams, jellies, fruit preparations, dairy products, and beverages.
• SOLGUAR™ (Guar Gum) SOLGUAR™ is a 100% traceable guar gum produced in Italy from Cyamopsis tetragonoloba seeds, supplied to food manufacturers as a versatile stabilizer and thickener for frozen desserts, sauces, dairy, dairy alternatives, and bakery applications.
• SOLMIX® (Functional Food Systems) SOLMIX® is a functional food systems line providing custom-designed stabilization and texturizing solutions that combine emulsifiers, hydrocolloids, and other functional ingredients. It includes SOLMIX IC for ice cream, SOLMIX S for sauces and dressings, SOLMIX D for cream and processed cheese, and SOLMIX F for jelly and fruit preparations, serving food manufacturers requiring bespoke blends.
• SOLCHOC™ (Carob-based Cocoa Replacer) SOLCHOC™ is a clean-label cocoa replacer made from roasted and ground carob pods through a 100% chemical-free process. It provides a natural chocolate-like flavor, aroma, and appearance with no caffeine or theobromine, low fat content, and high dietary fiber, and is supplied in three grades (L, M, D) for chocolate, pastry, cereals, beverages, and nutraceutical applications.
• SEEDPRO® (Carob Seed Protein) SEEDPRO® is a plant-based protein extracted from carob seeds through a 100% chemical-free production process, supplied as a white-yellow powder with at least 50% protein content by weight and emulsifying properties. It is targeted at gluten-free foods, plant-based diets, protein bars, bakery products, and vegan applications.
• SEEDFIBER™ (Carob Seed Fiber) SEEDFIBER™ is a natural carob seed fiber supplied as a yellowish-brown free-flowing powder composed of soluble and insoluble fibers, extracted through a sustainable, chemical-free process. It is certified vegan, kosher, and halal, and is used in gluten-free diets, plant-based applications, and meat analogs.
• SOLCITRIC™ (Citrus Fiber) SOLCITRIC™ is a clean-label citrus fiber derived from citrus peels through a valorization process, supplied as a stabilizer with no E-number that helps food manufacturers reduce salt, sugar, and fat in formulations. It combines soluble (pectin) and insoluble (cellulose and hemicellulose) fibers for water binding and texturization.
• SYFRUIT® (Carob Syrup Sweetener) SYFRUIT® is a natural carob sweetener supplied as a clear, colorless syrup with viscosity similar to standard sugar syrup, produced through a 100% chemical-free deionized extraction process from Ceratonia siliqua fruit. It has a low glycemic index and is used in frozen desserts, dairy, jelly, sauces, bakery, beverages, and nutrition applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.8% recycling rate of production waste into circular economy
• +3 more outcomes

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Indian Guar Split SupplierscoreOthersLBG sources certified guar splits from trusted partners in India. These partnerships ensure consistent quality raw material supply for SOLGUAR guar gum production. The splits are then processed in LBG's state-of-the-art facility in Ragusa, Italy, following rigorous safety and sustainability standards.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ADM (Archer Daniels Midland): Global agricultural processor and food ingredient supplier producing flavors, texturizers, plant proteins, and cocoa alternatives, broadly overlapping with LBG's hydrocolloid, plant-protein, and cocoa-replacer portfolio.
• International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): Through its former DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences division, IFF supplies pectin, cellulose gum, and other hydrocolloids used in dairy, bakery, and beverage stabilization, directly competing with LBG's SOLPECTIN and SOLMIX offerings.
• Kerry Group: Taste and nutrition company producing functional ingredients, food textures, and clean-label systems for the food industry, with overlapping customer base to LBG in dairy, ice cream, sauces, and bakery stabilization.
• Ingredion Incorporated: Specialty ingredient supplier (now parent of CP Kelco) producing starches, sweeteners, and hydrocolloids for food manufacturers, with direct overlap to LBG in pectin, LBG, and customized texturizing systems.
• Tate & Lyle: Global food and beverage ingredients supplier producing texturants, stabilizer systems, and clean-label ingredients for industrial customers, with overlapping capabilities to LBG's hydrocolloid and custom formulation business.
• Cargill: Global food ingredients major supplying texturizers, stabilizers, cocoa and chocolate alternatives, and plant-based proteins to industrial customers, overlapping with LBG's hydrocolloid, cocoa replacer, and carob-derived ingredient lines at much greater scale.

Regional players

• Silvateam: Italian producer of plant-based extracts and natural ingredients (including tannins and botanical specialties) headquartered near LBG's home region, with overlap in natural plant-derived functional ingredients for food and industrial applications.

Direct peers

• Herbstreith & Fox: German family-owned specialty manufacturer focused on pectin and other hydrocolloids for food applications, directly comparable to LBG's SOLPECTIN and stabilizer-blend business in scale and customer orientation.
• CP Kelco (now part of Ingredion): One of the world's leading hydrocolloid producers offering locust bean gum, pectin, xanthan gum, gellan gum, and carrageenan, directly overlapping with LBG's SEEDGUM and SOLPECTIN portfolios for food and beverage manufacturers globally.
• Nexira: French supplier of plant-based functional ingredients including acacia gum, carob bean gum, and natural fibers for food, nutrition, and pet food, directly comparable to LBG's carob-derived ingredient portfolio and clean-label positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lbg-sicilia-ingredients

Compliance11 records

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 LBG Sicilia Ingredients