1 October 2008 - McCormick & Company has inaugurated new production lines at its factory in Carpentras, France, which will manufacture dessert aids under the Vahiné brand for the European market.
According to sources, expansion work (valued at 5 million euro) started two years ago and was aimed at doubling production capacity and at new packaging.
Since McCormick & Company acquired 51% of Vahiné (formerly part of Dessert Products International SAS, which belonged to Hero AG) in August 2000 and then acquired the remaining 49% in May 2006, the company has invested more than 45 million euro in the Vahiné and the Ducros spice brands.
When McCormick & Company acquired the remaining 49% of Vahiné in 2006, the company shifted some production from its plant in Monteux to the Carpentras facility.
Vahiné has approximately 110 products and is the best-selling dessert aid brand in France but is less popular in markets such as Spain, Portugal and Belgium.
McCormick & Company employs 800 people in France and records 390 million euro in annual turnover.