History

Dansk Handels- og Industri-Compagni (A/S Danisco) was founded in 1934 as a conglomerate with activities in various industries. In 1989, the three companies merged under the name of Danisco and continued as a conglomerate until 1999.

Today, the company focuses exclusively on ingredients, including sweeteners and sugar for the food and beverage industry, and on animal nutrition. Our products help give food better taste, nutritional value, texture, appearance and shelf life.

Year	Event
1872	Danish Sugar is founded by Danish financier C. F. Tietgen. He acquires the Phoenix sugar refinery at Langebro bridge in Copenhagen, now the headquarters of Danisco A/S.
1881	Danish Distillers is founded by C. F. Tietgen.
1920	Danisco Seed is founded.
1924	I/S Grindstedværket is founded, primarily for the production of organic chemicals.
1934	Dansk Handels- og Industri-Compagni (A/S Danisco) is founded as a conglomerate.
1939	Danisco takes over Grindstedværket, which now produces emulsifiers, flavour chemicals, flavour compounds and enzymes for food.
1948	Introduction of CREMODAN® integrated blends of emulsifiers and hydrocolloids for ice cream.
1954	First ingredients sales company founded in Germany.
1964	Production of DIMODAN® Distilled Monoglycerides.
1980	Ingredients plant built in Kansas, USA. Change of name to Grindsted Products A/S.
1981	Pectin plant acquired in Mexico.
1983	Alginate plant acquired in France.
1985	Acquisition of LBG plant in Spain.
1986	Emulsifier plant built in Brazil.
1989	Danish Sugar, Danish Distillers and Dansk Handels- og Industri-Compagni merge to form A/S Danisco. The group acquires Andelsselskabet Sukkerfabrikken Nykøbing, making Danisco the only sugar producer in Denmark.
1990	Emulsifier plant built in Malaysia.
1991	Danisco Sugar takes over 8 sugar factories in the former German Democratic Republic.
1993	Danisco Sugar acquires Sockerbolaget of Sweden. Carrageenan plant built in Chile.
1994	The German sugar activities are streamlined and the entire company is gathered at Zuckerfabrik Anklam GmbH’s biggest factory in Anklam.
1995	Change of name to Danisco Ingredients. Acquisition of pectin plant in the Czech Republic.
1996	Emulsifier plant acquired in Sweden.
1997	Acquisition of Borthwicks flavour company.
1998	Danisco Sugar acquires shares in Lithuania’s four sugar factories. Acquisition of Esterchem, Malaysia. Discontinuation of emulsifier production in Sweden. Acquisition of Beck Flavors, USA. Acquisition of Wisby, Germany.
1999	Danisco merges with Finnish Cultor, making Finnsugar part of Danisco Sugar. Acquisition of Cultor Food Science. Change of name to Danisco Cultor. Plant built in China.
2000	Production of flavour compounds in India.
2001	Name change to Danisco. Activities divided into eight divisions. Danisco publishes its first Sustainability Report. Danisco acquires Germantown in Australia and Florida Flavors, USA
2002	Danisco acquires the Belgian company Perlarom.
2003	Danisco introduces a branding campaign including commercials on Danish national TV.
2004	Danisco acquires the food ingredient business of French Rhodia. Activities divided into nine divisions.
2005	Danisco acquires the biotechnology business of Genencor, developing, and selling biocatalysts and other biochemicals for the industrial, consumer, and agri-processing markets.
2006	Danisco activities are divided into five divisions including: Genencor, Cultures, Texturants & Sweeteners, Flavours and Sugar.
2007	Danisco divests the Flavours Division to Firmenich and becomes four divisions: Genencor, Cultures, Texturants & Sweeteners and Sugar.