Univar and Ashland join forces to enhance F&B innovation in EMEA
Key takeaways
- Univar Solutions and Ashland have formed a partnership to distribute cellulose ethers across EMEA countries.
- The partnership will target the growing demand for plant-based, vegan, and gluten-free foods.
- The agreement takes effect in stages, starting in Europe on January 1, 2026, followed by the UAE and Saudi Arabia in March, and Türkiye in April.
(Image credit: Ashland).Foodology by Univar Solutions and Ashland have penned an exclusive partnership to distribute cellulose ethers to EMEA countries, including the UK, France, Germany, and Saudi Arabia, enabling manufacturers to enhance texture, stability, and processing in F&B products.
Cellulose ethers are a group of compounds derived from cellulose, the natural polymer found in plant cell walls. The unique properties of cellulose ethers, like water solubility, gelling, thickening, or film-forming abilities, make them useful in many products, such as food additives.
These ingredients can play a versatile and functional role in new applications serving diverse markets, including vegan foods and beverages, plant-based meats, and gluten-free bakery products.
“Ashland’s specialty ingredients are a strategic addition to our existing portfolio,” says Aaron Lee, global vice president of Health & Nutrition at Univar Solutions. “We’re excited to broaden our cellulose ether offerings across EMEA, especially as the demand for alternative and plant-based proteins continues to accelerate in the nutrition space.”
The new partnership covers a range of products, including methylcellulose (MC), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), ethylcellulose (EC), and PVPP.
“This new alliance will provide significant value to our customers through enhanced product availability, faster delivery, specialized expertise, and improved support services partnerships,” says Alessandra Faccin Assis, senior vice president and general manager of life sciences and intermediates at Ashland.
“Our products offer an array of functional benefits enabling groundbreaking advancements in F&B innovation and performance. We’re excited to bring ingredients to food manufacturers in EMEA, aiming to meet the evolving health, convenience, and quality expectations of their products.”
The distribution agreement came into effect in Europe on January 1, 2026. The agreement will come into effect for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and Oman on March 1, 2026, and for Türkiye on April 1, 2026.
The partnership is backed by Foodology’s technical expertise and state-of-the-art solution centers, including a flagship test kitchen in Essen, Germany.
