Singapore-based ingredients group Olam International has acquired the bulk and own-label operations of Indian spice maker Vallabhdas Kanji (VKL).

Under the US$18m deal, which was announced last week, the assets include VKL’s spice processing facility in Cochin, India, its pepper grinding factory in Vietnam and its sales and distribution operations in North America.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Olam president and global head for spices and vegetable ingredients Greg Estep said the acquisition offered the company us “a unique opportunity to accelerate our entry into new, attractive product segments namely chilli and turmeric, as well as into the private-label segment of the value chain”.

He said the deal would complement Olam’s pepper production in Vietnam capsicum production and sales and marketing activities in the US and added the company would benefit from cost synergies by combining its sourcing, processing and distribution capabilities under one network.

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact