New partnership with Indian based company Sayaji
Alland & Robert announces joint venture with Sayaji Industries for acacia gum production in India
April 6, 2019 – Alland & Robert has entered into a joint venture with India-based company Sayaji Industries Limited
As a result of this joint venture, Alland & Robert and Sayaji Industries will each take an equal share (50:50). The partnership is embodied by a brand new name and logo.
Alland & Robert, a family-owned company and expert in this field since 1884, will primarily focus on manufacturing and supplying premium quality spray dried acacia gum for the growing Indian market.
Commenting on the joint venture, Mr. Frédéric Alland, CEO at Alland & Robert said : “This Joint Venture will give Alland & Robert the opportunity to offer its high quality products to the Indian market. Our partnership with a successful local enterprise will get us closer to the customers’ needs of this particular and dynamic new market. Alland & Robert is a 135-year-old family company that has always aimed at expanding its reach in the world. We are proud to take on new challenges to ensure our success.”
Mr. Priyam Mehta, CMD, Sayaji Industries Ltd. said, “We are delighted to join hands with Alland & Robert, a company that has been an expert in this field since 1884. We will leverage the expertise of both companies – Sayaji Industries’ strong presence in the Indian Food & Beverage market and Alland & Robert’s unique technological know-how. We are looking forward to working closely with Alland & Robert on developing this partnership.”
Acacia gum, also known as gum Arabic or E414, is a natural, safe and healthy ingredient used in flavours, beverages, confectionery, dairy, bakery, dietary products, pharma and cosmetics among others. Acacia gum is today found in thousands of day to day products all over the world.
Alland & Robert and Sayaji industries will present their partnership at the Food Ingredients trade show in Mumbai (21-23 October 2019) at the Sayaji Industries booth: A10.
Join our United States roadshow
Join our United States Roadshow!
PRESENTATION BY ALLAND & ROBERT
Gum Acacia: The Versatile Flavor Enhancer
- > Discover the flavor enhancing applications of versatile gum acacia.
- > Get insights on the latest flavor technology.
- > Gain expertise in improving flavor systems.
- > Explore specialty gums to enhance unique flavors.
Alland & Robert presentation will be followed by a presentation by HB Natural Ingredients about stevia, the natural sweetener.
Alland & Robert announces verification by NON-GMO project
Alland & Robert announces verification by NON-GMO project
Alland & Robert has obtained NON GMO verification for its acacia gum references, karaya gum reference and its texturing ingredient Syndeo®.
Alland & Robert is proud to announce its Non-GMO Project Verified products are produced in compliance with the Non-GMO Project Standard. This is an important process that confirms Alland & Robert’s commitment to manufacture natural, unadulterated products, and offer the highest quality of gums.
The Non-GMO Project is a US-based non-profit organization committed to preserving and building sources of non-GMO products, educating consumers, and providing verified non-GMO choices. It is North America’s most trusted seal for GMO avoidance for consumers who are concerned about what’s in their food.
Alland & Robert CEO Frédéric Alland said: “This verification by the NON GMO project is step forward for us, and we will continue to promote the use of natural products in the food and cosmetic industries. It will help us provide more transparency to our customers looking for premium and vegetal ingredients.”
15 Alland & Robert references have been verified by the NON-GMO Project, including 13 Acacia Gum qualities. Acacia gum, or E414, is a natural, vegetal and healthy ingredient used in the food and cosmetic industries for its functional properties and a soluble fiber. Acacia gum is today found in thousands of day-to-day products all over the world.
The complete list of verified references can be found here.
Alland & Robert Hosts Press Trip to Show Off Acacia Gum's Multiple Applications
Alland & Robert organise un voyage de presse pour présenter les multiples applications de la gomme d'acacia
On a sunny Monday in mid-December, we were proud to host both journalist Miriam Nice from the prestigious BBC Good Food and foodie influencer Elly Curshen at our R&D centre in Saint-Aubin-sur-Gaillon, France, for a day centered around one of the world’s most useful and up-and-coming ingredients: acacia gum.
Fun Fact: The research centre is brand new and was opened in 2018!
We arrived in Saint-Aubin-sur-Gaillon from our Paris offices. The first activity was a presentation about the history of the company by our Marketing Director, Violaine Fauvarque! We are a family business that was founded almost 135 years ago, and we are committed to expanding and remaining independent!
The next part of the day was the main event: an ‘atelier cuisine’. With Miriam and Elly’s help, we got to see how we can use acacia gum with agar agar as a replacement to gelatine in vegetarian and vegan panna cottas!
Top tip: when cooking with acacia gum, make sure you mix it with other dry ingredients. This makes sure it spreads through the final product!
Time to compare some different products…
As we waited for the panna cotta to set, the next step was to compare different products with and without acacia gum. These included wine, sugar free ketchup and bread. The most interesting thing was the versatility of the gum as it did a different thing in each different product. For example, in the wine, it helped to remove the harsh tannin flavours. This made it smoother, whereas in the ketchup it helped give texture!
After this we went for lunch at a lovely local restaurant!
Then, after lunch, we went for an exciting tour around our research and development labs, led by the head of the department, Isabelle Jaouen. Here we got to see the various ways that we can use acacia gum in different liquids, and how they undertake their industry leading research!
Finally, it was time for the all-important panna cotta taste test: could acacia gum really help make amazing vegetarian and vegan panna cottas?
The results were certainly resounding. Everyone agreed that both the vegetarian and vegan panna cottas had a significantly better texture with acacia gum added. The vegan one with coconut milk was a personal favourite of both Elly and Miriam!
SOS Villages d'Enfants ouvre une école au Mali avec l'aide d'Alland & Robert
SOS Villages d'Enfants ouvre une école au Mali avec l'aide d'Alland & Robert
Dans un pays comme le Mali, où le taux de scolarisation dans le secondaire n'est que de 41,4 % [1], l'avenir semble sombre pour les jeunes. De plus, cette image d'un avenir difficile est aggravée par le fait que 25,1 [2] de tous les enfants sont soumis au travail forcé et que 52 % d'entre eux sont mariés avant l'âge de 18 ans [3]. C'est pourquoi Alland & Robert a soutenu l'ouverture d'une nouvelle école à Khouloum, construite par son partenaire de longue date SOS Villages d'Enfants.
Cette nouvelle structure révolutionnaire, ayant ouvert ses portes en septembre 2018, offre un espoir pour l'avenir à 315 enfants âgés de 6 à 15 ans, sous l'œil attentif de 11 employés à temps plein. "Khouloum étant situé à Kayes, l'un des districts les plus pauvres du Mali, SOS Villages d'Enfants a rapidement décidé que des efforts spécifiques devaient être fournis afin de s'assurer que tous les enfants se verraient accorder le droit fondamental à une éducation de qualité." Isabelle Moret, directrice générale de SOS Villages d'Enfants France, ajoute : "Khouloum est la quatrième école d'apprentissage au Mali. " Khouloum est la quatrième école que nous construisons au Mali et nous ne pouvons qu'espérer qu'elle connaîtra le même succès que nos autres écoles.
Lorsque SOS Villages d'Enfants lui a proposé ce projet, Fréderic Alland, PDG d'Alland & Robert, a su qu'il fallait faire quelque chose. "Nous sommes fiers d'être partenaires de SOS Villages d'Enfants depuis 2013, mais lorsqu'ils nous ont proposé cette opportunité, nous savions que nous devions apporter notre aide." Il remarque. "Le Mali est l'un des pays africains où nous nous approvisionnons en gomme d'acacia, et nous nous sommes engagés à investir dans les communautés liées à l'acacia."
Cette école, ouverte aux enfants des villages environnants, vient compléter le village déjà construit sur place où les enfants sans soutien parental sont pris en charge par une mère SOS. "L'école est vraiment l'aboutissement de ce projet à long terme à Khouloum, car elle nous permet de contribuer à la réalisation de la convention relative aux droits de l'enfant et à l'objectif de développement durable n°4. En effet, les enfants privés de soins parentaux, ou autres enfants vulnérables, ont les mêmes droits à une éducation de qualité que tous les autres enfants et ne doivent pas être laissés pour compte". ajoute Matthieu de Bénazé, responsable des programmes internationaux de SOS Villages d'Enfants France.
[1] Enquête de l'UNESCO 2017 - http://uis.unesco.org/country/ML
[2] Rapport du Département d'État américain 2012-https://photos.state.gov/libraries/mali/96825/International%20Report/mali_child_labor_eng_2014.pdf
[3] Enquête de l'UNICEF 2017 - https://www.girlsnotbrides.org/child-marriage/mali/
Les numéros E ne sont pas tous mauvais
Les numéros E ne sont pas tous mauvais
Contrary to popular belief (and what we’ve been told by our parents for years), not all E-numbers are bad for you. In fact, it might even shock you to learn that certain E-numbers can actually have many advantages. A really good example of the benefit that they can bring is highlighted in the example of Acacia gum, or rather, E414.
As an E-Number, E414 is verified as a safe food additive by EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) and is also one of the 45 currently allowed in organic foods as well. This is mainly because it is seen as an essential food additive, thanks to its industry leading binding and emulsifying properties. Despite its inclusion on this list for these properties listed above, Acacia gum is also great for many different reasons.
The first of these is its richness in soluble fibre. Fibre is one of the most critical requirements for the maintenance of a smooth-functioning digestive system, without which the body is likely to suffer greatly. However, a higher intake in soluble fibre, like the one present in Acacia gum, has also been closely linked with lowering cholesterol levels, keeping blood sugar levels in order, protecting against diabetes and controlling hunger during weight loss by helping you keep fuller for longer.
E414 is also popular in the food sector because of its water retention properties, especially in the world of bakery products. For example, in breads, Acacia gum is widely added to improve their softness, especially when added to gluten free bread that is often dense and close textured. Acacia gum’s texturing properties are also used in confectionery to create syrup-like textures.
Finally, Acacia gum is also a 100% natural and allergen-free product, that can only be acquired by harvesting it from trees that are mainly located in the south Sahel region in Africa. This may seem shocking because some E-numbers are related with being produced artificially in a lab, but not E414!
From start to finish in the production process, Alland & Robert uses industry leading research and development to protect the integrity of the gum insuring the best quality, most natural, product.
Pour en savoir plus sur nos activités de recherche et développement, cliquez ici!
Devinez les utilisations étranges et merveilleuses de la gomme d'acacia!
La gomme d'gomme d'acacia (également connue sous le nom de gomme arabique ou E414) est un produit 100 % naturel extrait par entaillage des acacias, principalement dans le sud du Sahel en Afrique. Elle est totalement exempte d'allergènes et d'OGM et est utilisée dans des milliers de produits dans un certain nombre d'industries différentes telles que l'industrie alimentaire, pharmaceutique et cosmétique.
Outre son utilisation classique en tant qu'hydrocolloïde alimentaire, améliorateur de texture et gélifiant, la gomme d'acacia a de nombreuses applications inattendues et inhabituelles à travers les continents et les âges...
Le rouge à lèvres de la reine d'Angleterre
Saviez-vous que le gomme d'acacia figurait autrefois dans le rouge à lèvres royal ? AuXVIe siècle, en Grande-Bretagne, les lèvres rouge vif étaient à la mode et, selon des témoignages historiques, la reine Élisabeth Ire en était une grande adepte ! Le rouge à lèvres préféré de la reine contenait apparemment un mélange de gomme d'acacia, de blanc d'œuf et de lait de figue. De plus, des milliers d'années auparavant, dans l'Égypte ancienne, Cléopâtre elle-même aurait utilisé des cosmétiques contenant de la gomme d'acacia !
Attaque artistique
De nos jours, la gomme d'acacia est principalement utilisée dans les pays asiatiques pour produire des œuvres d'art créatives et significatives. En Chine, par exemple, les moines bouddhistes utilisent un mélange de gomme arabique et de craie pour réaliser des peintures traditionnelles sur soie appelées "Thangka", qui sont utilisées lors des cérémonies religieuses en l'honneur de Bouddha. En Inde, la gomme est également utilisée de la même manière pour produire l'art Kinnala, composé de sculptures en bois. De plus, grâce à ses propriétés naturelles, la gomme d'acacia est souvent utilisée comme liant essentiel dans les peintures aquarelles et les encres de calligraphie.
La singerie au zoo
Fait amusant, le gomme d'acacia a également été utilisé pour occuper les animaux qui s'ennuient dans les zoos ! Au zoo de Southwick, en Angleterre, les gardiens ont fabriqué des jouets remplis de gomme d'acacia pour les donner aux singes et aux lémuriens enfermés afin de les distraire pendant les longues heures de visite. Selon Lauren Cully, coordinatrice pédagogique du zoo, "les activités gratifiantes sont importantes pour stimuler ces animaux intelligents, afin qu'ils restent heureux et conservent les compétences qu'ils ont acquises dans la nature".
L'élixir de jeunesse : la crème antirides
Outre les produits de maquillage et les produits capillaires, la gomme d'acacia se retrouve dans des cosmétiques populaires tels que les crèmes anti-âge pour le visage ! Selon Simon Ford, du groupe de cosmétiques biologiques Melvita, "lagomme d'acacia procure un effet lifting instantané et améliore la texture de la peau, lissant les rides et laissant la peau douce et souple. gomme d'acacia soutient même les fibres naturelles telles que le collagène et l'élastine ".
Chut petit bébé...
Le secret pour calmer les cris des bébés pourrait bien être... le gomme d'acacia! Selon le blog mamanrenardetpapaours.com, un mélange de gomme d'acacia avec du sirop, de l'eau de fleur d'oranger et de l'eau minérale est le meilleur moyen de soulager les nourrissons souffrant de coliques et de permettre aux parents de passer une nuit paisible !
Comme vous pouvez le constater, grâce à sa nature polyvalente, la gomme d'acacia a un large éventail d'applications étranges et merveilleuses, ce qui en fait l'additif 100% naturel parfait pour satisfaire tous vos besoins !
Alland & Robert, une réussite familiale
Alland & Robert, a familly success story
Founded in 1884, Alland & Robert has seen five generations of visionary leaders build the company’s reputation and expertise in the international acacia gum market. From Francisque to Frédéric Alland, the company has been transformed from a humble family business story to a major undisputed forerunner in the natural gums industry, exporting to 69 countries on all continents.
Recently named as Deputy General Director, 25-year-old Charles Alland is about to take over the family business. We managed to interview Charles about his vision of the acacia gum market before he headed off to Sudan to meet with our suppliers and symbolically plant a tree to mark National Tree Day.
The company has been passed down through five generations and has 134 years of expertise in acacia gum as well as other natural gums. Charles Alland, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your family’s business tradition?
The family business was created in Paris by Francisque Alland and his partner, Alfred Robert, and they started off sourcing acacia gum in Africa to import to Europe. Over the years the company grew from strength to strength, with each generation of the family making a valuable contribution – for example, my father, Frédéric Alland, became CEO of the company in 1984. It was under his influence that Alland & Robert became widely-known on an international level. It was thanks to these visionary leaders that the business has been shaped into what it is today: a global leader in natural ingredients which now exports all over the world.
As a child I had the chance to travel to Africa many times, especially Senegal, and discovered African culture, and most importantly, its agriculture! Here I learned about Acacia trees and how they have been cultivated in Africa for thousands of years. Walking around the bush was a great way to learn about the different species of Acacias which not only look different, but also produce different types of gum!
You are in Sudan this week to meet the suppliers. What is your take on the region and the overall impact the acacia gum industry has on it?
Acacia gum production is a very important economic resource for the underprivileged populations of the Sahel and Sub-Saharan Africa, which includes Sudan. In fact, around 10 million people live directly or indirectly thanks to its production. Alland & Robert works with African populations through a range of local suppliers to help improve their working and living conditions, giving them the chance to participate in training courses, enabling access to drinking water, and providing medical care for all workers.
Through its African partners, the company is also heavily involved in providing employment and training for local women who do not have the same access to education and jobs. We have several new CSR projects in the pipeline for Sudan next year, where we will not just train the farmers to harvest acacia gum more sustainably, but also ensure they have access to vital natural resources.
For the past few years, additives have been in the spotlight – and not for the best of reasons – and consumers are becoming increasingly cautious of the products they buy. Studies show that acacia gum is one of the most natural additives available to consumers, yet very few people have heard of it. Could you tell us a bit more on what acacia gum is all about?
Acacia gum is a truly versatile product which is used in a wide variety of products, including food, beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. In fact, it is used in almost all industries! At Alland & Robert, we are convinced that acacia gum has many more undiscovered properties, particularly in terms of nutrition and health foods. Since 2012, the company has invested €400,000 in various equipment to compare different natural gums which are made of complex polysaccharide polymers.
Our researchers at the IATE and UMR laboratories carry out primary research and develop new applications in collaboration with the University of Montpellier, which has a research unit especially for agro-polymers and emerging technologies. What’s more, our new laboratory in Normandy now has an application research section where we have started to test different recipes containing acacia gum (such as drinks, sauces, pastries, etc.). The lab is a new tool to broaden our knowledge, but most importantly, to help our technical assistance team find solutions for customer issues.
Here are some photos of the trip!