Givaudan is the world's largest producer of flavors and fragrances with sales of CHF 2,778 million in 2005. The company has operations all over the world. Today, the corporate headquarters of Givaudan are still located in Vernier, the company's flavor operations are headquarted in Cincinnati, Ohio and the fragrance operations are headquarted in Paris, France. Gilles Andrier is the current CEO of Givaudan taking over in 2004 from Dr Jürg Witmer who is the current chairman of the board of directors. Major competitors include Firmenich, International Flavors and Fragrances, Symrise and Quest International.

History

Givaudan was founded in 1895 in Zurich (Switzerland) by Leon and Xavier Givaudan. In 1898 Givaudan moved to Geneva (Switzerland) and constructed a factory in Vernier. In 1963, Givaudan was acquired by Roche. In 1964, Roche acquired Roure and in 1991 Givaudan and Roure were merged to form Givaudan-Roure. In 1997 Givaudan-Roure acquired Tastemaker based in Cincinnati, Ohio (USA). In 2000 Givaudan-Roure was spun-off by its parent company as Givaudan and listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (Code GIVN.VX) where it is part of the SMI. In 2002 Givaudan acquired FIS the flavors division of Nestle.

In 1937 Givaudan's predecessor Roure created the first designer perfume: Schocking for Schiaparelli.

External links

• Official site
• Leffingwell & Associates Flavor & Fragrance Industry Leaders

Companies of Switzerland | Companies listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange | Flavor companies | Fragrance companies

Givaudan | Givaudan