The French firm said it sought to strengthen “its presence and its offering in the fast-growing nutritional ingredients and human health sector.”
Lesaffre paid an undisclosed sum to the Maccaferri Group for the shares it acquired in Gnosis in 2002. Maccaferri said it was selling up because it was focusing its on renewable energy.
Gnosis has two production facilities in Italy and Switzerland and an estimated turnover of €80m this calendar year.
“The synergies that we will develop between Lesaffre and Gnosis will enable us to improve our production processes and offer products and services that are increasingly innovative and closely matched to customer and consumer needs," Lesaffre CEO Antoine Baule said in a statement.
Gnosis, founder Aldo Basseti said “This new partnership will enable Gnosis to consolidate its position, and to move into a new phase in its growth."
Gnosis employs about 200 people and its portfolio of fermented ingredients includes vitamins like folate, antioxidants, probiotics and enzymes.