Merck has granted distribution rights for its Candurin pearl effect pigments for the food industry in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg to Azelis, a distributor of speciality chemicals and food additives.
Apart from logistics, Azelis will be responsible for local customer support and applications technology. In turn, Merck will support Azelis with research and development, training and regulatory matters.
Merck is already collaborating with Azelis in the UK and Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece.
Rainer Hoffmann, responsible for Pigments & Cosmetics Sales, Merck in Northern Europe, said: 'Food industry customers in Benelux appreciate the high quality of locally manufactured products – take for instance, the excellent reputation of Belgian chocolates worldwide. According to these customers, a product should not only taste good, but be aesthetically pleasing as well.
'The answer to this need is high-quality raw materials from Merck, the use of which must be precisely explained to customers. This can only be done by a highly skilled and well-trained team that can call on experienced experts in research, development and marketing. That is precisely what the partnership between Merck and Azelis can ensure.'