Vitamins firm’s vow on Scots site after China deal

Dutch chemicals group DSM has insisted that it remains “fully committed” to its Ayrshire plant after striking a deal to buy a Chinese vitamins producer.

DSM, the last remaining producer of vitamin C in the western world. Picture: Getty

DSM, the last remaining producer of vitamin C in the western world, is paying an undisclosed sum for Aland and said it would be investing in its production facilities as it seeks to expand its global footprint.

Scotland on Sunday revealed in April that DSM, the world’s largest maker of vitamins that employs about 330 people at its Dalry factory, was in advanced talks over an acquisition of the Chinese firm.

The deal, expected to complete within six to nine months, had raised concerns over the future of the Dutch firm’s operations in Scotland, but a spokesman said: “DSM remains fully committed to its current vitamin C manufacturing facility in Dalry.”

DSM concentrated production of vitamin C in Scotland in 2005 after calling a halt on its US manufacturing operations in New Jersey in a bid to cut costs.

The Dalry site, which last year secured a £3.7 million grant from Scottish Enterprise to help improve efficiency in the face of growing international competition, was established in 1958 to manufacture vitamin A. It was bought by DSM as part of a €2.25m (£1.8m) deal in 2003 to acquire the vitamins business of Swiss healthcare giant Roche.

Aland, founded in 1990, employs about 1,850 people and has a production facility in Jiangsu province. It generated vitamin C sales of more than £50m last year.