According to Brenntag, personal care is one of the fastest growing market segments in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. The acquired personal care/cosmetics operations are market-leading with an excellent coverage in South African markets and include a dedicated application laboratory including mixing, refilling, redistribution and delivery, formulating and testing of materials and products and other technical support.

Chemgrit’s personal care operations are to be integrated into Brenntag’s business unit Personal Care & HI&I, also expand application and technical support to HI&I cleaning customers.

Michael Friede, CEO of Brenntag Specialties, commented: „With this acquisition, we execute Brenntag’s ‘Strategy to Win’ and enrich the capabilities, scope and scale for Brenntag Specialties in Southern Africa. Chemgrit’s cosmetics focus perfectly complements our existing national food and pharma business in Life Science and supports our ambition to achieve an ever-stronger position with a comprehensive offering in South Africa and beyond.”

Michael Thomson, president of Brenntag Specialties Africa, added: “The enlarged Brenntag Specialties business in South Africa will be scaled to other African markets, adding to Brenntag’s current African presence with local entities in Maghreb, Ghana, Nigeria, East Africa, Mauritius and South Africa.”