Cork-headquartered Carbery acquires Brazilian ingredients firm Solutaste

Carbery operates from 11 locations worldwide and supplies more than 50 countries 

Carbery Group chief financial officer Liam Hughes, chairperson Vincent O’Donovan and chief executive Jason Hawkins. Carbery announced the acquisition of Solutaste on Monday. Picture: Andy Gibson.

Carbery Group has announced the acquisition of Solutaste, a flavours and ingredients manufacturer and distribution company based in São Paulo, Brazil, as it continues to expand its footprint in the food and beverage sector in South America.

Headquartered in Ballineen in West Cork, Carbery is owned by four cooperatives - Bandon, Barryroe, Drinagh, and Lisavaird - and operates from 11 locations including Ireland, the UK, the USA, Brazil, Italy, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand and supplies more than 50 countries worldwide.

The company produces dairy and nutritional ingredients for more than 50 markets globally, and this is the second acquisition in Brazil by Synergy, which is Carbery’s flavours division. The value of the deal is undisclosed.

“Carbery has had a presence in Brazil since 2007, with a further acquisition in 2012. The rapid growth of that business and strength of the market has driven continued investment and expansion. We have an outstanding team in place to deliver on this potential, and we are excited to expand our flavour and ingredients footprint in Brazil and in the wider South American region," said Carbery chief executive Jason Hawkins.

“Partnering with Solutaste, a young and innovative company, will further enhance the services we offer to both existing and new customers in the region. Carbery’s model is built on partnership, diversification and the continuous infusion of new talent and ideas across all the regions and sectors we operate in."

Carbery's taste (flavours) business includes brands across beverages, nutrition, bakery, confectionery, savoury, and dairy products worldwide. Carbery's revenue increased 8% to €668m in 2024, and the taste business was cited as a major contributor in their annual report, withyear-on-year revenue growth in the Americas driven by volume increases and new customer wins in the US and Brazil.

Carbery employs 1,000 people and has 1,168 local farmer suppliers. “Our shareholders have continuously supported the investment and ambition to grow and diversify our company. This is essential to create a secure future for the farming families who are the backbone of our cooperative organisation," said Carbery chair Vincent O’Donovan. 

"I sincerely welcome the employees of Solutaste to Carbery Group and look forward to working with them and the board of Carbery to continue to grow and develop our business, which we are so proud of.”

Synergy Flavours Brazil managing director Paulo Reis said “We are excited to welcome the members of the Solutaste team into our wider organisation. With our new facility also due to complete in 2026, we look forward to more success ahead.”