Founded in 1969, Kancor Ingredients Ltd., Kochi, India, has become a global leader in spice extracts. And now, as part of France’s Mane Group, Kancor is celebrating its golden jubilee year with a three-year expansion plan. 

Official say Kancor already invested USD $18 million during the last four years and plans to spend more than USD $21 million more in the next 36 months. Plans are to build new facilities, expand existing sites and purchase and incorporate new technologies. 

Kancor Ingredients will expand its facilities located in India’s states of Kerala, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. In Karnataka, the company also plans to build an additional site adjacent to its existing facility at Byadgi. The company is currently in the process of acquiring around 50 acres of land for setting up a new processing center. It will act as a major processing center of Kancor for the next 25 to 30 years. 

The company, which has two facilities in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, also has started expanding both facilities. In the home state, the facility at Angamaly is all set to undergo a major revamp with focus on R&D and new products. Officials say it will take three years to complete these projects.  

“We carry out major expansion activities in every 10 to 12 years with a vision for the next 20 years,” said Geemon Korah, Kancor Ingredients CEO and director. 

Addressing a media conference in Kochi in mid-February, Korah added, “The last time we carried out a major expansion was in 2004 and 2005. However, this time we have planned it with a vision for the next 25 years and made it part of our Golden Jubilee celebrations. It is our gift to our employees, stakeholders and business partners. At present, all our facilities are operating at their fullest capacities.”

Here are Korah’s additional comments from the media conference: 

“Every decade, new challenges emerge in terms of emerging technology, business outlook, consumer behaviors and crop outputs. In every phase, Kancor has led the way by doing things differently. In 1969 and 1970, Kancor was the first company to set up a spice extraction unit in India. It brought out a sea of changes in the spice industry and motivated the industry to focus more on value addition. When it comes to food safety, we were among the first to obtain ISO certification in 1994. At every stage, we have increased our capabilities in terms of technology and products to keep up with the times. We will continue to do so in future.”

“The company’s success lies in the unyielding commitment to excellence. Right from the global sourcing programs, we ensure that they work closely with the farmers to enrich their work and livelihoods. The initiatives of backward integration for specific crops and community development have already provided very positive responses. The sense of commitment continues in the facilities, where state-of-the-art plants deal with the delicate and intricate processes of extraction, distillation and the purification of actives.” 

“Our R&D division tirelessly innovates to fulfill complex orders from varied industry segments. We are pioneers in the development of several products, be it the isolation of curcumin from turmeric in 1978, product advancements made in the field of natural colors and natural antioxidants. Kancor has contributed significantly to the industry. The acclaim and awards won by Kancor is a testimony to our commitment and spirit to bring the best to the world.”

Addressing employee welfare, Korah said Kancor employs more than 600 people with an attrition rate at less than half the industry average of 9-10%. The company has launched numerous initiatives for the welfare of its employees and has developed a mutually beneficial association with the workers’ unions for higher productivity.  

In and around mint farms in UP around Bareilly, the company is involved in many sustainable agro initiatives to improve the yield of mint and thereby improving farm incomes. Several other agro initiatives taken up for the promotion of crops like chilies, rosemary, ginger, turmeric, lemongrass and tuberose are done with IT-enabled services. The key focus of the Agriculture Business division is to assist farmers to adopt Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) with a special focus on sustainability and traceability, thereby improving their social, environmental and economic conditions. 

Korah notes that Kancor has launched many corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, which include lighting of villages, clean drinking water plants, unique initiatives for supporting farmers’ families, health and sanitation, special education and employment enhancing vocational skills (especially among children, women, elderly persons and differently abled persons).

About Kancor Ingredients Ltd.

Kancor Ingredients Limited, whose roots in the spice trade can be traced back to 1857 at the spice capital of the world, Kochi, is a pioneer in the field of spice extracts and now is diversified into natural solutions. Kancor Ingredients is headquartered in Kochi, Kerala, India and has been a subsidiary of leading French flavor and fragrance house, Mane, since December 2014. 

Visit www.kancor.com for more information.