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BASF has finalised the sale of its Food and Health Performance Ingredients business to Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC), marking a significant shift in both companies’ strategies within the global food and nutrition sector.

The transaction, first announced in 2024, is now cleared by all relevant authorities. It includes BASF’s production site in Illertissen, Germany, three application labs abroad, and approximately 300 employees who will transition to LDC.

The divested portfolio spans food performance ingredients, such as whipping agents, emulsifiers and fat powders, as well as health-oriented products including plant sterol esters, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and omega-3 oils. Several smaller product lines are also part of the deal.

BASF said the move sharpened its focus on its core Nutrition & Health businesses. Daniela Calleri, the company's senior vice president of Nutrition Ingredients, said: “By focusing on vitamins and carotenoids, we are reinforcing our strategic direction toward vital nutrition ingredients for both human and animal nutrition.”

For LDC, the acquisition represents an expansion into the fast-growing plant-based ingredients sector. “This move is a significant milestone in LDC’s growth journey in the plant-based ingredients space, enhancing and accelerating our capacity to develop innovative solutions for food, personal care and healthcare applications,” said James Zhou, chief commercial officer and head of Food & Feed solutions at LDC.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.