Japanese Sweetener Firm Sells French Factory To HYET Holding

Dutch company HYET Holding B.V., a supplier of various artificial sweeteners, has purchased France-based Japanese sweetener maker Ajinomoto Sweeteners Europe S.A.S. (ASE). The French factory, based in Gravelines in Northern France, would have been closed by Ajinomoto as part of a consolidation strategy involving the transfer of aspartame production to Japan. Consolidation was necessary to maintain efficiency in a time of sliding aspartame prices. The acquisition of the French unit ensures that factory employees will continue to have a job. HYET Holding is a sister company of HYET Sweet (The Netherlands), which makes aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame-K and stevia.