Today, DSM Nutritional Products is the world’s premier supplier of vitamins, carotenoids and other fine chemicals to the feed, food, dietary supplement and personal care industries. The company has a long tradition as a pioneer in the discovery of new products, new formulations and attractive applications for all the industry segments that it serves.
The company’s history begins in 1933 with the first chemical synthesis of vitamin C by a Swiss scientist. The following year, the Swiss Pharmaceutical company, Hoffmann-La Roche, began the first commercial production of synthesized vitamin C. During the following years, Roche continued to focus its considerable scientific capabilities on developing processes to synthesize a full line of both water and oil based vitamin products. In 1956 Roche began the first production of the carotenoid, beta-carotene. This was followed by a range of other carotenoids useful in both human and animal health applications. In 1964 the Roche Vitamins and Fine Chemical Division was formed and became a stand alone entity within Hoffmann-La Roche. During the following years, the Division continued to expand by both developing new products and through acquisitions. It added numerous other products of significance to the food, feed and cosmetic industries, becoming the undisputed global market leader in vitamins and carotenoids.
In 2003, the Roche Vitamins and Fine Chemicals Division was acquired by the Dutch based, global, Life Science and Materials Science company, DSM, and became DSM Nutritional Products, setting the scene for today’s continued market-leadership and an even more exciting future. Since the acquisition, DSM Nutritional Products has demonstrated its intention to continue responding to new opportunities with acquisitions such as Pentapharm in 2007, and the renewal in 2008 of the strategic feed-enzymes alliance with Novozymes, which was first formed in 2001. DSM Nutritional Products is well positioned for continued growth and looks forward to the next 75 years of service to its Food, Feed, Dietary Supplement and Personal Care Industry partners.
