Just two weeks after Safic-Alcan acquired 100% of UK distributor Langley-Smith the Paris, France-based specialty chemicals distributor announced that it has taken 100% of Luigi and Felice Castelli S.p.A. (LFC), a leading chemical distributor specializing in the life science sector in Italy. The French distribution company has also acquired a majority stake in Castelli Food (CF), an ingredient distributor specializing in the Italian food and beverage sector.

Established in 1868 and headquartered in Milan, LFC is a distributor with a focus on ingredients for cosmetic in Italy. “The acquisition of Luigi and Felice Castelli is a major step forward for our ambitious life science plans in EMEA,” stated Yann Lissillour, Director of Mergers and Acquisitions for Safic-Alcan. LFC provides ingredients and knowledge, their list of products for the cosmetic industry is the result of years of research by leading international manufacturers, continuous monitoring of customer needs and alignment with the latest technologies and market requirements. LFC also serves the pharmaceutical industry in Italy. The company is the distributor for world leading producers. The LFC team will remain with CEO Aldo Ravanelli leading the activities.

“Luigi and Felice Castelli is an excellent fit to our activities in Italy, together with our existing local structure headed by Pietro Affer, we will become a formidable force in the country,” concluded Philippe Combette, CEO of Safic-Alcan.

Castelli Food, in which Safic Alcan has acquired a majority stake, was established in 2015 and is also headquartered in Milan. CF is providing quality ingredients such as yeast extracts, vegetable preparations, different types of fibers, spices and herbs, milk derivatives, vegetal extracts, special blends tailor made and a full range of other organic products to the food market. The company works with innovative, leading international producers. “The acquisition of Castelli Food is a stepping stone for our food activities and widens our group expertise in this field,” stated Lissillour.

“As part of our overall Life Science strategy, we see this acquisition as an important consolidation of our activities in the Italian market and we look forward to further building on this additional expertise within Safic-Alcan,” added Combette.