Nicholas Whitley, CEO of KDC

Indeed the KDC Group (Knowlton Development Corporation) has quite a track record! It all started in 2002 with the creation of the Emballages Knowlton Company, employing 300 people, with sales of $80 million. In 2003, the investment fund Novacap took control of the Company. The first acquisitions took place in 2007 with the Tri Tech Laboratories and Body Blue Inc Companies. But it is in 2014 that things really started accelerating, with the launch of the Novacap Industries IV fund, which gave the Group the financial tools to fulling their expansionist strategy.

A series of acquisitions

In January 2015, KDC acquired the ChemAid Laboratories, a formulator and manufacturer of skincare, hair care and bath and body products with a plant in Saddle Brook, New Jersey.

On October 14 and 21 of the same year, KDC acquired the companies of Kolmar Laboratories and Acupac Packaging from the Kolmar Labs Group, a New-York-based custom formulator and manufacturer of color cosmetics, personal care and skincare products, and of Cosmetic Technologies, a California-based cosmetics and personal care products contract manufacturer. The latter acquisition allowed the Canadian Group to extend its scope to the West Coast.

The conquest of the West continued with the takeover on 16 November 2016 of Thibiant International, a formulator and manufacturer of personal and skincare products based in Chatsworth, California. “We found particularly attractive Thibiant’s innovation-driven business model, its high-tech facilities and equipment, its exceptional client base," emphasized Nicholas Whitley.

On November 9, 2017, the KDC Group took over the Aromair Fine Fragrance Company, a full-service manufacturer and supplier specializing in home and air care categories based in New Albany, Ohio.

One month later, on December 12, KDC officials announced the acquisition of Northern Labs, a full-service liquid product contract manufacturer serving the personal and home care markets. Located in Wisconsin, the company is specialising in liquid, gel, lotion, and paste products.

2018…and beyond!

For Nicholas Whitley, the adventure is far from over. After this impressive series of acquisitions, KDC Group started the structuring of their offer as a global leader in beauty innovation.

At the MakeUp in Los Angeles tradeshow in February, KDC launched their newly branded image, “kdc/one” to the industry. “One” network of reputable, best-in-class custom formulators and manufacturers that collectively deliver high-touch innovation, operational excellence, and speed to market to established and emerging beauty, personal care and home care companies.

To further send the message that kdc/one is committed to being the leader and destination for true innovation, the network is gearing up to open the doors to their state-of-the-art Innovation Lab this summer in Saddle Brook, NJ.

What’s next for kdc/one? “The goal of one billion dollar turnover is now within sight and the next growth stages could very well be in Europe and Asia. Kdc/one is a force to be reckoned with and we are excited to build on this momentum to provide the highest level of quality, service and innovation to our brand partners,” said Nicholas Whitley.