Symrise posts mixed results for pet portfolio, eyes expansion

German chemicals company Symrise posted sales of €1.3 billion ($1.5B) in the first quarter of 2025, with growth supported by higher volumes. Organic growth was 4.2%, maintaining the company’s full-year outlook of 5-7%.

The Taste, Nutrition & Health segment, where the firm’s pet food business is included, hit sales of €799 million ($911.7M) between January and March 2025. During the same period in 2024, sales hit €775 million ($884.2M).

While the company doesn’t disclose specific performance figures for its pet division, it says it achieved a “moderate” sales increase with “strong” growth in its pet food palatability portfolio. Conversely, pet nutrition achieved a softer performance in the first months of 2025.

Confident approach

Bernhard Kott, Chief Sustainability Officer at Symrise, tells GlobalPETS that the situation is under continuous review. 

“Our strong market leader position helps us to manage continued high growth rate in Pet Palatability, whereby the Nutrition part started weaker this year,” he says.

Kott states that the company is confident going forward “to gain additional market share.” Symrise is eyeing growth markets in Asia to help achieve this expanded market share.

“We will expand our capacities in Asia soon to leverage regional growth markets, especially in the premium sector,” Kott adds. While he did not specify which markets are the key focus, Symrise has already achieved growth in China, Malaysia and Thailand. 

2024 performance 

Symrise’s organic growth was 8.7% in 2024, and group sales increased by 5.7% to around €5 billion ($5.7B). 

The firm’s pet food business achieved single-digit organic growth, and sales development was particularly dynamic in the Latin America and Asia/Pacific regions, including China, with double-digit organic growth. In the EAME region, Turkey, Belgium and Spain showed notably high growth.

However, the aquafeed business saw declining organic growth, and the company intends to sell the business in Costa Rica and Ecuador.

Challenging environment 

“Symrise achieved strong and profitable growth in the past fiscal year, again outperforming the market by a significant margin,” says CEO Dr. Jean-Yves Parisot. 

“Our ONE Symrise strategy gives us a strong foundation for leveraging our potential in what remains a challenging geopolitical and economic environment. Thanks to our consistent focus on growth, efficiency and the further optimization of our portfolio, we will be able to achieve another solid, sustainable and profitable result in the current fiscal year.”

Symrise recently received the prestigious ‘Partner to Win Award’ at Unilever’s 2025 Awards Ceremony in recognition of its contributions to innovation, sustainability and collaboration.