The Tangerang-based company specializes in importing and distributing food ingredients for the processed meat, beverage and savory segments in the greater Jakarta area. Azelis said the move will enhance its position on the Indonesian food market and provide a platform for accelerated growth.

Financial terms were not disclosed but Azelis expects to close the acquisition within the next two months.

On completion, all Primaditha's employees will join Azelis. Helianti Laurensia, owner and director of Primaditha, will be appointed head of business development, food & health for Azelis Indonesia while co-owner and director Woro Setyaningtyas will become senior sales manager, food & health.

Laurent Nataf, CEO & president of Azelis Asia Pacific, said Indonesia, the fourth most populous country in the world with 264 million inhabitants and a young workforce, has been a key strategic country and a strong growing market for the company over the past couple of years.

"The food and nutrition market has been our focus for the country and the addition of Primaditha's strong principal [supplier] and customer network will strengthen our operations in Indonesia," he added.

Primaditha said Azelis's strong formulation and application support will add a lot of value to its offering, which will also benefit from the Belgian distributor’s international infrastructure and access to additional customers and suppliers.

Azelis has made two other acquisitions in Asia this year. Last month, it agreed to buy CosBond, a specialty chemicals and food ingredients distributor headquartered in Hong Kong and with facilities in China. This was preceded in February by the purchase of India’s S. Zhaveri Pharmakem, extending Azelis’s presence in the country’s fast-growing pharmaceutical market.