Our Heritage
Nactarome was born from a desire to offer a comprehensive range of natural flavour, taste and colour solutions, building on the heritage and local expertise of our founding companies, some of which have roots stretching back to the 1800s.
We are pleased to work with a growth-focused partner, TA Associates, to further expand into additional markets, always prioritising our high-quality standards, customer-centric approach, and commitment to sustainability.
2019
Nactarome is founded in 2019, with the union Nactis Flavours, based in France & Belgium, and Italy’s AromataGroup.
AromataGroup was formed in 2011 by bringing together several established Italian companies — Variati Aromi, Select Alimenta, Emans Derivati Aromatici, and the historical FiorioColori brand, itself founded in 1914. Under the leadership of Dr. Hans Udo Wenzel, and with support from Ambienta SGR, AromataGroup grew further, first acquiring in 2019 Italian savoury ingredient manufacturer IPAM, before becoming became a founding company of Nactarome. The fusion of AromataGroup and IPAM led to the Italian legal entity, Nactarome srl.
Formally established in 1998, Nactis Flavours drew on decades of aromatic expertise across various sectors of the French and Belgian flavour and ingredient industries. From bouillions and savoury notes to nut pastes and sweet ingredients for professional pastry chefs, Nactis Flavours grew to become a founding company of Nactarome in 2019. Learn more about Nactis Flavour’s history:
2020-2021
Nactarome expands into the UK with the acquisition of Create Flavours and TasteConnection, and grows its presence in the Italian market when FIAS joins the Group.
Create Flavours was established in 2001 in Bristol with a clear mission: high-quality, natural flavourings with unrivalled customer service. The company relocated to Clevedon, North Somerset, investing in full manufacturing facilities, GC-MS analytical capabilities, and a dedicated Innovation Centre, becoming the heart of Nactarome’s UK operations when it joined the Group in 2020.
TasteConnection was founded in 2002 in Alderley, Gloucestershire, where the company built a strong reputation in bespoke flavouring solutions, with a special focus on provenanced ingredient blends. Joining Nactarome in 2021, TasteConnection brought their natural seasonings and strong presence in handmade crisps, premium snacks, and ready meals.
“Fabbrica Italiana Aromi Speciali”, FIAS, was founded in 1968 outside of Milan, Italy by Luciano Cunial, who brought his experience in beverage production management to create drink flavourings. FIAS expanded into bakery, confectionery, and ice cream flavourings, as Luciano’s children — Paolo, Luisa, and Silvia — built the company’s recognised expertise in vanilla-based flavours (conventional, organic, and Fairtrade). FIAS joined Nactarome in 2021.
2023
Nactarome saw accelerated growth in 2023, acquiring both centuries-old historic brands like Trablit & Royal Buisman, as well as newer companies, like Calaf Nuances and FoodTaste, expanding into new geographies and segments.
Nactarome’s oldest brand, Trablit, was born in 1845, when a French pharmacist developed a proprietary natural process to extract the pure essence of coffee. The Trablit company developed over nearly two centuries to become a market leader in natural coffee extraction and a reference among the prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier de France (MOF). Trablit joined Nactarome in 2023, becoming part of the French La Fabrique line of products for artisanal pastry chefs and creators.
Founded by Herman Buisman in 1867 in the Netherlands as a coffee flavour enhancer, Royal Buisman became an iconic Dutch brand, achieving a royal designation in 1951. In the 1970s, Royal Buisman evolved into a specialty food ingredient company, leveraging its long heritage in caramelised sugars. Royal Buisman joined Nactarome in 2023, bringing over 150 years of expertise in natural caramelised ingredients and exports to more than 40 countries.
Calaf Nuances was founded by Manel Alcaide in 1998 in Spain’s Catalonia region. A multidisciplinary team of chemists, engineers, biologists, and food technologists grew the company to serve food and beverage companies across Spain, as well as exporting throughout Europe and Latin America. Calaf Nuances joined Nactarome in 2023.
Founded in 2010 by industry professionals, Hélène Milliot and Michel Gourlaouen, FoodTaste specialised in marine ingredients sourced from controlled and sustainable fisheries. They developed their “100% Seafood” range of natural sea extracts while holding an MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) certification. FoodTaste joined Nactarome in 2023.
2025
Nactarome moved into a new area of Nutraceuticals and Sports Nutrition with the acquisition of Plantex and Claremont, while continuing expand capabilities with new acquisitions like Geus and Flavence.
Founded in France in1990 by Pierre and Aïcha Debaisieux, Plantex developed a deep expertise in botanical extraction, transforming over 300 plant species into high-quality extracts for the nutraceutical, food, cosmetic, and animal nutrition industries. Nactarome acquired Plantex in 2025 as part of a strategic expansion into health & wellbeing categories.
Founded in 1993 near Stoke-on-Trent, England, Claremont grew from a specialist development laboratory into one of the UK’s leading independent flavour manufacturers, focusing on sports nutrition, bakery, bars, and beverages. Nactarome acquired the company in 2025 as part of its expansion into health & wellbeing categories.
Geus was founded in Croatia 1991 as a consumer goods importer and distributor, pivoting to the development and production of flavour seasonings for savoury snack products in 2012. From their FSSC 22000-certified production plant in Komin, Geus exports throughout Southeast Europe and beyond, joining Nactarome in 2025.
Flavence was founded in Belgium in 1998 by entrepreneurs Arnaud de Beukelaer and Valérie Cruyplants. The company pioneered natural and certified organic flavourings when the clean-label movement was still in its early stages, carfing out a distinctive position in chocolate, confectionery, bakery, ice cream, fruit preparations, and — reflecting Belgium’s brewing heritage — breweries and distilleries. Flavence joined Nactarome in 2025.
2026
Doscadesa was founded in Spain in 1939, in Molina de Segura, Murcia, as a major producer of paprika. They developed into a point of reference for functional blends, spices, and technical solutions for the food industry, with a particular strength in the meat sector. Doscadesa expanded across Southern Europe, North Africa and Latin America, joining Nactarome in 2026.
In 1978, outside of Patras, Greece, chemist Denis Frangias founded Paxman to manufacture beverage compounds. Under the stewardship of his children, Stavros & Olga, Paxman grew into Greece’s leading manufacturer of ingredients and solutions for the entire beverage market. Paxman joined Nactarome in 2026.
