colarome inc.

What colarome inc. does

Colarome Inc., now operating as CAPOL Inc., is a Canadian specialty food-ingredients company founded in 1998 in Saint-Hubert, Quebec, that develops and manufactures VIVAPIGMENTS® — a proprietary line of natural color pigments for the food and beverage industry. Its core technology encapsulates soluble vegetable extracts (e.g., anthocyanins from red cabbage, betanins from red beet, curcumin from turmeric, bixin from annatto, spirulina-derived blue) in a water-insoluble rice protein matrix, producing 100% natural, aluminum-free pigments that color by dispersion rather than dissolution and deliver lake-like functionality in low-moisture applications. The patented process has been granted in Canada (2011), Asia, the US, and Europe. The product portfolio spans yellow, orange, red, purple, blue, brown, green, and white variants in powder and liquid-dispersion forms, complemented by kosher, halal, vegetarian, vegan, allergen-free, and EU "coloring foodstuff" certifications.

The company sells directly to enterprise food and beverage manufacturers (confectionery, chocolate, compound coatings, bakery, dairy, frozen desserts, seasonings, supplements) and indirectly through a global color-house reseller channel, with regional sales coverage in the United States and the Poland/Germany corridor and manufacturing in Montreal supported by a second CAPOL-group production site in Europe. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Since 2017, Colarome/CAPOL Inc. has been a subsidiary of the CAPOL group, which has been part of Freudenberg Chemical Specialities (a Business Group of Freudenberg SE, Germany) since 2013, giving the entity access to the parent group's documented delivery capability across more than 100 countries and a portfolio of 250+ confectionery finishing formulations.

The commercial proposition targets three structural tailwinds in the food industry: the regulatory phase-out of synthetic dyes (notably California Red Dye No. 3, with a 2027 deadline), the EU's 2022 ban on titanium dioxide in food (addressed by the VIVAPIGMENTS® White extension for hard-sugar panning), and the broader clean-label movement driving reformulation toward natural, allergen-free, and aluminum-free colorants. Quantified performance claims include 0.3-0.6% dosages for vibrant compound-coating color and up to 17x higher coloring power in selected carriers versus standard extracts, positioning the technology as a functional replacement for synthetic lake pigments rather than a commodity extract.

Name

colarome inc.

Legal name

Colarome Inc.

Website

https://colarome.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Colarome Inc. (operating as CAPOL Inc.) develops and manufactures VIVAPIGMENTS®, a patented line of natural color pigments using rice protein encapsulation, serving food and beverage manufacturers and color houses worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Natural Food Colorants

NAICS

Synthetic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing (32513), Synthetic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing (325130)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Colors & Color Systems (Natural/Artificial, Caramel Colors) (CRADAOAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Color Lakes & Pigment Preparations (Aluminum Lakes, Encapsulated Pigments) (AFAJAEAE), Clean-Label & Certified Colorants (Organic, Non-GMO, Kosher/Halal, Allergen-Free) (AFAJAEAI), Application-Specific Color Solutions (Beverage, Dairy, Confectionery, Bakery, Savory, Pet Food) (AFAJAEAH), Color Masterbatches & Dispersions (IMAEAHAK)

Keywords

• Natural food colors
• Color pigments
• Food ingredients
• Clean label colors
• Confectionery coatings

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-hubert

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. VIVAPIGMENTS® Natural Color Pigments: Sale of proprietary natural color pigments (powder and liquid forms) to food and beverage manufacturers and color houses. Products are manufactured at the Montreal, Canada facility using proprietary encapsulation technology.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Colarome Inc. (now operating as CAPOL Inc.) manufactures VIVAPIGMENTS®, a proprietary line of natural color pigments for food and beverage applications. The company uses patented rice protein encapsulation technology to convert soluble vegetable extracts into insoluble natural pigments with lake-like characteristics, offering aluminum-free, clean-label alternatives to synthetic lake pigments. Products are available in powder and liquid dispersion forms across a full color spectrum (Yellows, Oranges, Reds, Purples, Blues, Browns, Greens, White) and are manufactured at the Montreal, Canada facility.

Product overview

Colarome Inc. (now part of CAPOL Inc.) offers VIVAPIGMENTS®, a proprietary line of natural color pigments for the food and beverage industry. The core technology encapsulates vegetable extracts in a water-insoluble rice protein matrix, providing aluminum-free, lake-like characteristics as an alternative to synthetic pigments. VIVAPIGMENTS® products are available in powder and liquid dispersion forms across a full color range including Yellows, Oranges, Reds, Purples, Blues, Browns, and Greens. The company serves end producers and color houses worldwide, with manufacturing at their Montreal, Canada facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VIVAPIGMENTS® Natural Color Pigments Proprietary natural color pigments for the food and beverage industry. Vegetable extracts are encapsulated in a water-insoluble rice protein matrix to provide lake-like characteristics as an aluminum-free alternative to synthetic lake pigments. Available in powder and liquid dispersion forms across a full color range, sold to food manufacturers and color houses worldwide.
• VIVAPIGMENTS® Yellows Natural yellow color pigments based on curcumin from turmeric and riboflavin (vitamin B2), with later addition of Carthamus sourced from safflower. Encapsulated in rice protein matrix and suitable for chocolate, compound coating, yoghurts, desserts, bakery, coatings, fruit preparations, ice cream, seasonings, and dietary supplements.
• VIVAPIGMENTS® Oranges Natural orange color pigments sourced from bixin pigment from Annatto seeds, encapsulated in a rice protein matrix. Suitable for chocolate, dairy, and baked goods applications.
• VIVAPIGMENTS® Reds Natural red color pigments derived from betanins in red beet and anthocyanins from red radish. Available as a coloring foodstuff according to EU legislation, providing heat-stable red coloring for confectionery and bakery applications.
• VIVAPIGMENTS® Purples Natural violet color pigments sourced from red cabbage anthocyanins, encapsulated in a water-insoluble rice protein matrix for lake-like characteristics in food and beverage applications.
• VIVAPIGMENTS® Blues Natural blue color pigments based on spirulina (algae) and anthocyanins from red cabbage, available as a coloring foodstuff according to EU legislation. Designed to withstand challenging production conditions in food and beverage applications.
• VIVAPIGMENTS® Browns Natural brown color pigments composed of caramel-free blends, encapsulated in a rice protein matrix to prevent color bleed in applications such as confectionery, chocolate, and bakery.
• VIVAPIGMENTS® Greens Natural green color pigments based on sodium copper chlorophylin from lucerne, grass and nettle, as well as spirulina blends. Provides vivid green hues for confectionery and dairy applications.
• VIVAPIGMENTS® White Natural whitening agent developed as an alternative to titanium dioxide for the hard-sugar panning process, used by confectionery manufacturers needing clean-label white color solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Application dosages of 0.3-0.6% in compound coating achieve vibrant, uniform color results
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CAPOL GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Colarome Inc. became part of the CAPOL group in 2017, enabling inspiring synergies in the field of food coloring and edible coatings. The VIVAPIGMENTS® brand operates under CAPOL Inc. as part of the larger CAPOL group.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GNT Group: GNT is the most direct competitor with its EXBERRY® brand of plant-based, non-GMO food colors derived from fruits, vegetables, and edible plants. Both companies target the same clean-label reformulation use cases in confectionery, dairy, and beverages.
• Kalsec: Kalsec specializes in natural colors and flavor extracts from herbs and spices (e.g., paprika, turmeric, annatto), serving the same food and beverage customers and competing head-to-head for clean-label reformulation mandates.
• Lycored: Lycored supplies natural carotenoid-based colors (lycopene, beta-carotene, lutein) for food, beverage, and nutraceutical applications. It is comparable as a science-driven natural color specialist serving the same clean-label reformulation demand.

Broad incumbents

• Sensient Technologies: Sensient is a large diversified color and flavor house with a substantial natural colors portfolio (Sensient Natural Ingredients). It competes with VIVAPIGMENTS® across food and beverage applications and has far greater scale and R&D resources.
• DSM-Firmenich: DSM-Firmenich operates one of the largest natural and synthetic color portfolios globally (including the former DSM Food Specialties business). It serves the same confectionery, dairy, and beverage manufacturers as Colarome, although at much broader portfolio breadth.
• Givaudan: Givaudan, the world's largest flavor and fragrance house, expanded into natural colors through its acquisition of Naturex. It offers natural color solutions to the same CPG customers as Colarome, with much greater global scale.
• Döhler: Döhler is a German-based B2B ingredient supplier of natural flavors, colors, and fruit-based ingredients for the food and beverage industry. Its color portfolio competes directly with VIVAPIGMENTS® across beverage, dairy, and confectionery applications.
• ADM: ADM is a global agricultural processor and ingredient supplier with a natural colors business serving food and beverage manufacturers. It competes with VIVAPIGMENTS® primarily through scale, ingredient breadth, and integrated sourcing.
• Chr. Hansen (now part of Novonesis): Chr. Hansen (merged with Novozymes into Novonesis) supplies natural colors and cultures for the food industry, including a natural color portfolio (e.g., FruitMax). It serves the same confectionery and dairy customers seeking clean-label color solutions.

Emerging players

• IFC Solutions: IFC Solutions (Innomedia Foods Company) is a US-based specialty ingredient supplier of natural and synthetic colors and flavors for the food industry. It is comparable as a mid-sized player targeting similar mid-market food manufacturers and reformulation projects.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=-dKjqSOFjBQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/colarome-inc.

Compliance6 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 colarome inc.