HallStar acquires BioChemica

The HallStar Company, a Chicago-based specialty chemistry company, has acquired BioChemica International (www.biochemica.com), a supplier of exotic butters and oils for use in personal care products.

The acquisition represents a strong move into the burgeoning natural and organic personal care products market. The industry recorded $3.8 billion in sales in 2009, boasting a 14 percent compound annual growth rate from 2003 to 2009.

“Based on marketplace trends and our current position as a provider of personal care ingredients, expanding into the naturals space is a logical move that will help us better serve our customers while also delivering profitability,” said John Paro, HallStar Chairman, President and CEO.

Since a rebranding initiative launched in 2007, HallStar has expanded its position in supplying ingredients to companies across a wide range of personal care product categories. With the acquisition, HallStar becomes an immediate player in the naturals space, Paro said.

BioChemica, meanwhile, brings a highly regarded technical expertise and process in developing and marketing exotic butters and oils. HallStar will support BioChemica with resources enabling the business to develop new consumer-friendly products and to more effectively market those products on a global basis.

BioChemica will continue to serve its global customer base from its Melbourne, Florida facility, retaining its employees as well as its brand as a HallStar business unit.

BioChemica complements HallStar’s already strong lineup of personal care ingredients. Both companies have introduced major new products to the personal care industry. In 2009, HallStar launched SolaStay S1, a powerful photostabilizer that helps the active ingredients in sun care products to achieve the highest levels of UVA and UVB protection.

Throughout its history, BioChemica has developed proprietary methods to manufacture plant-derived extract butters, resulting in new lines of vegetal, fruit and citrus butters that provide excellent formulation stability. Those butters have stirred significant global interest among formulators and consumers seeking natural products.

About The HallStar Company

The HallStar Company (www.hallstar.com) is a privately held corporation that traces its roots back over 90 years. HallStar focuses on providing innovative chemical solutions for its customers in more than 50 countries across six continents. HallStar Innovations Corp., the group’s research and development affiliate, has developed more than 100 patents.

About BioChemica International

BioChemica International (www.biochemica.com), founded in 1993 by Larry and Pollye Moroni, offers exotic butters and oils that occur in nature as well as organic butters and oils derived from its proprietary blending and temperature-controlled processes. The company was awarded National Organic Program (NOP) certification from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and European compliance with its organic program, under the inspection of Quality Certification Services of Gainesville, Florida.