International Flavors & Fragrances Inc

XMUN:IFF

Business Description

Sector

Materials

Industry

Chemicals

Headquarters

United States of America US

Employees

21 500

IPO date

Mar 2, 1964

International Flavors & Fragrances makes the scent and taste ingredients that go inside other companies’ products. It sells flavor systems for foods and drinks, fragrance compounds for perfumes, personal care, and household products, and specialty ingredients used in health, wellness, and industrial applications. Its customers are mainly consumer packaged goods companies, food and beverage makers, personal care brands, and manufacturers that need a specific ingredient profile or sensory effect.

IFF makes money by selling these ingredients and by designing custom formulas for customers. In many cases, it works closely with a customer to match a taste, smell, texture, or performance target, then supplies that formula over time as part of the customer’s production chain. This means the business is less about selling to end consumers and more about being a behind-the-scenes supplier that helps big brands create finished products.

What makes IFF different is that its products are often built into a customer’s recipe or manufacturing process, which can make them hard to replace. The company’s role sits in the middle of the value chain: it combines chemistry, application know-how, and manufacturing to turn raw materials into specialized ingredients that other companies use in their own branded goods.