Univar Solutions and Kalsec® Inc. Expand Global Relationship with Exclusive Food Ingredients Distribution Agreement in Colombia

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• Latin America - español
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Growing partnership brings innovative solutions to more food and beverage customers in Latin America

BOGOTA, Colombia, Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Univar Solutions Colombia, SAS, a subsidiary of Univar  Solutions Inc. (NYSE: UNVR) ("Univar Solutions" or "the Company"), a leading global solutions provider to users of specialty ingredients and chemicals, and Kalsec Inc., a natural ingredient solution provider for the food and beverage industry, have entered into an exclusive distribution agreement for Kalsec's full food ingredients product range in Colombia. Univar Solutions customers in Colombia now have access to a broader range of ingredient innovations focused on taste and sensory solutions, natural colors and coloring foodstuffs, and food protection business units.

"This agreement builds upon our successful existing partnership with Kalsec in Europe and Mexico, enhances our value in core technical applications, and illustrates our continued commitment to sustainability," said Kevin Hack, global vice president of food ingredients for Univar Solutions. "We are excited to introduce Colombian customers to Kalsec's complete line of naturally sourced extracts, colors, and antioxidants, providing them with the opportunity to use these ingredients to develop innovative food and beverage products for consumers."

In addition to providing an expansive portfolio of specialty food ingredients, Univar Solutions supports customers looking to meet consumer demands for the latest high-quality ingredients to develop clean label food products that help deliver on the need for healthier, more sustainable ingredients. Combining culinary science with application development support, Univar Solutions works closely with its customers and suppliers to nurture creative problem-solving and deliver innovative formulations, recipes, and ingredients to help brands of all sizes grow and thrive. Kalsec's products, encompassing a full line of natural and high-quality innovative ingredients, provide solutions to meet the challenges faced by food and beverage manufacturers globally. Both companies support the latest food trends such as clean label, plant-based alternatives, and healthy ingredients, and are fully committed to sustainable practices and meeting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals.

"Collaboration with industry leaders like Kalsec helps drive more sustainable food and beverage solutions for the technical challenges facing the future of the food industry in South America and beyond," said Jorge Buckup, president of Latin America for Univar Solutions. "We are thrilled to further expand our partnership with Kalsec as they mirror our high standards of sustainability, social responsibility, innovation, and community engagement."

"Kalsec has been operating for more than a decade in Colombia, providing our customers with excellence in local service, support, and supply of natural food and beverage ingredient solutions," said Aaron Wheadon, senior vice president of global business development for Kalsec. "As we continually strive to enhance our support for customers in Latin America, we are pleased to be working with a market leader such as Univar Solutions, who shares our values in sustainable sourcing and helps support our purpose of unlocking the potential of people, nature, and science to nourish the world."

For more information about Univar Solutions food ingredients business, visit https://www.univarsolutions.com/foodology.

For more information about Kalsec's portfolio of solutions and its commitment to unlocking the potential of people, nature, and science to nourish the world, visit https://www.kalsec.com/.

About Univar Solutions
Univar Solutions (NYSE: UNVR) is leading global commodity and specialty chemical distributor representing a premier portfolio from the world's leading producers. With the industry's largest private transportation fleet and technical sales force, unparalleled logistics know-how, deep market and regulatory knowledge, formulation and recipe development, and leading digital tools, the Company is well-positioned to offer tailored solutions and value-added services to a wide range of markets, industries, and applications. While fulfilling its purpose to help keep communities healthy, fed, clean and safe, Univar Solutions is committed to helping customers and suppliers innovate and focus on Growing Together. Learn more at univarsolutions.com.

About Kalsec^® Inc.
Kalsec^® Inc. provides innovative taste and sensory, natural food protection, natural colors, and advanced hops solutions to the food and beverage industries. We capture the best nature has to offer and utilize over 60 years of experience and industry leading innovation to make food and beverage products look better, taste better, and last longer. Family owned and headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan since 1958, Kalsec has regional offices, laboratories and sales teams in North America, Europe, and Asia. As a certified B Corp, Kalsec makes ethical and sustainable decisions that serve our customers, employees, communities, and the environment. We are proud to be using our business as a force for good. For more information, visit www.kalsec.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes certain statements relating to future events and our intentions, beliefs, expectations, and outlook for the future, which are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which may be beyond the Company's control. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations and assumptions. A detailed discussion of these factors and uncertainties is contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Potential factors that could affect such forward-looking statements include, among others: general economic conditions, particularly fluctuations in industrial production and consumption and the timing and extent of economic downturns increased competitive pressures, including as a result of competitor consolidation; potential supply chain disruptions; significant changes in the pricing, demand and availability of chemicals; our indebtedness, the restrictions imposed by, and costs associated with, our debt instruments, and our ability to obtain additional financing; the broad spectrum of laws and regulations that we are subject to, including extensive environmental, health and safety laws and regulations and changes in tax laws; potential cybersecurity incidents, including security breaches; an inability to generate sufficient working capital; transportation related challenges, including increases in transportation and fuel costs, changes in our relationship with third party transportation providers, and ability to attract and retain qualified drivers; accidents, safety failures, environmental damage, product quality issues; delivery failures or hazards and risks related to our operations and the hazardous materials we handle, potential inability to obtain adequate insurance coverage; ongoing litigation, potential product liability claims and recalls, and other environmental, legal and regulatory risks; challenges associated with international operations; exposure to interest rate and currency fluctuations;  possible impairment of goodwill and intangible assets; the ongoing and evolving COVID-19 pandemic, including impacts on the global economy, our employees, customers, vendors and suppliers, and our business, results of operation and financial condition; significant changes in the business strategies of producers or in the operations of our customers; an inability to integrate the business and systems of  companies we acquire, including failure to realize the anticipated benefits of such acquisitions; negative developments affecting our pension plans and multi-employer pensions; labor disruptions associated with the unionized portion of our workforce; our ability to attract or retain a qualified and diverse workforce; our ability to execute on our strategies related to environmental, social, and governance matters, and achieve related expectations may be impacted as a result of evolving regulatory and other standards, processes, and assumptions, the pace of scientific and technological developments, increased costs and the availability of requisite financing and changes in carbon markets; and the other factors described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as well as other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We caution you that the forward-looking information presented in this press release is not a guarantee of future events or results, and that actual events or results may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking information contained in this press release. In addition, forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "plan," "seek, "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe" or "continue" or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Any forward-looking information presented herein is made only as of the date of this press release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE Univar Solutions Inc.