Brenntag Specialties and Royal Avebe Deepen Strategic Partnership to Expand Plant-Based Ingredient Solutions Across the U.S. Market
Brenntag, the global market leader in the distribution of chemicals and ingredients, has announced the further expansion of its strategic partnership with Royal Avebe, a renowned Dutch farmer cooperative and industry leader in potato-based ingredient innovation. This deepened collaboration marks a significant milestone for both companies, extending their existing business relationship into the United States and reinforcing their shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and customer-centric solutions in the Food & Nutrition sector.
Through the newly expanded agreement, Brenntag Specialties will now be the official distributor of Avebe’s portfolio of premium potato-based ingredients—starches, proteins, and fibers—to customers throughout the United States. This move supports Brenntag’s strategy to enhance its footprint in North America and provide best-in-class, plant-based ingredient solutions tailored to the evolving needs of modern food manufacturers and processors.
Strengthening a Flourishing Partnership
The partnership between Brenntag and Avebe began in 2023 with a regional agreement covering the Turkish market. Encouraged by its success, the collaboration was quickly extended to include key territories across Europe, including the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg), Poland, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and several Nordic and Baltic nations such as Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
With this new agreement, the companies are taking their collaboration to the next level—tapping into the vast and dynamic U.S. market. The expansion leverages both companies’ strengths: Brenntag’s deep market knowledge and strong distribution network in North America, and Avebe’s expertise in developing high-functionality, potato-based ingredients that meet the increasing demand for clean-label, sustainable food options.
Meeting Consumer Demand for Plant-Based, Clean-Label Solutions
The growing shift among consumers toward healthier, plant-based diets has created an increasing demand for clean-label and sustainable ingredient alternatives. This trend has been especially prominent in the United States, where food manufacturers are racing to innovate with ingredients that support wellness, environmental responsibility, and food transparency.
“Together with Avebe, we’re proud to offer innovative plant-based potato ingredient solutions that address the growing consumer demand for sustainable, clean-label products,” said Kevin Hack, Regional President Nutrition North America at Brenntag Specialties. “This collaboration enables us to meet consumer demands for premium quality ingredients, while driving our shared vision of a more sustainable and nutritious future.”
Avebe’s high-quality, plant-derived ingredients—developed through years of agricultural and technical innovation—align well with these consumer preferences. Their product portfolio includes specialty potato starches with excellent texturizing and thickening capabilities, functional plant-based proteins that can replace animal proteins in various applications, and dietary fibers that support digestive health and product integrity.
Expanding Global Reach with Local Expertise
By entering into this expanded partnership, Avebe gains access to Brenntag’s extensive distribution and customer support network in the United States, allowing the Dutch company to provide its specialized ingredients with increased responsiveness, technical support, and logistical efficiency.
“Our partnership with Avebe signifies an exciting expansion of our global reach, allowing us to offer their high-quality potato starch, protein and fiber products to the North American market,” said Eric Laramee, Director IMM Nutrition North America at Brenntag Specialties. “By building upon our established European presence and joining forces with Avebe, we are not only strengthening our global footprint but also providing sustainable and innovative solutions that cater to the diverse needs of our customers.”
Brenntag’s value-added services—such as application development support, regulatory guidance, and customized logistics solutions—will help ensure that Avebe’s ingredients are delivered efficiently and are successfully incorporated into a wide range of food and beverage applications across the U.S.
Driving Innovation Across Food Segments
The collaboration between Brenntag and Avebe will focus on supplying high-performance, plant-based ingredients to a range of specialized food segments, including bakery, confectionery, dairy alternatives, and meat substitutes. These segments represent high-growth areas within the food industry, driven by increasing consumer demand for more natural, ethical, and functional food choices.
“Partnering with Brenntag allows us to bring our high-quality, potato-based ingredients to customers across the U.S. with broader local support, expertise and reliability customers expect from Avebe,” said Goos Wierbos, Global Business Lead Food at Avebe. “Together, we’re making it easier than ever for food producers and manufacturers to innovate with confidence.”
Joe Lombardi, Sales Director Food Americas at Avebe, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the opportunity to reach more customers with tailored ingredient solutions: “By partnering with Brenntag, we’re able to target specialized markets with even greater precision—delivering plant-based food ingredients to bakery, confectionery, dairy and meat segments. With our tailored solutions in functional proteins and specialty starches, we bring added value and innovation to customers seeking next-level ingredient expertise.”
Avebe’s innovations are particularly well-suited to food manufacturers looking to develop plant-forward products without compromising taste, texture, or functionality. Their ingredients can help improve moisture retention in plant-based meats, enhance creaminess in dairy alternatives, and provide stability and texture in gluten-free baked goods—all without the need for artificial additives.
A Shared Vision for Sustainability and Innovation
Both Brenntag and Avebe are committed to supporting a more sustainable food system. By providing ingredients that are derived from potatoes—a highly efficient, renewable crop—the companies are helping to reduce the environmental footprint of food production while maintaining high nutritional and functional standards.
For Avebe, sustainability is at the heart of its operations. As a farmer cooperative, the company ensures that value is shared with its agricultural members and that innovation supports both environmental and economic sustainability. This partnership with Brenntag will help bring those values to a broader audience in North America.
Brenntag, in turn, has made sustainability a core pillar of its business strategy. Through partnerships like this one, the company aims to be a key enabler in the global transition toward more sustainable and health-focused supply chains.
