- CEO
- Gaëtan Waucquez
- Full Time Employees
- 4,073
- Sector
- Consumer non-durables
- Industry
- Food: specialty/candy
- Address
- Building P Waterloo WA Belgium 1410
- IPO Date
- Jan 4, 2000
- Business
- Floridienne S.A. (FLOB.BR) is a Belgium-based holding company that operates through subsidiaries in three primary business segments: Life Sciences, Gourmet Food, and Specialty Chemicals & Recycling. Founded in 1898 and headquartered in Waterloo, Belgium, the group maintains leading positions in niche markets, with 75 subsidiaries, 32 plants, approximately 3,848 employees, and consolidated turnover of EUR 697.4 million in 2024; its operations span Europe (46% of net sales), the Americas (49.1%), and other regions (4.9%).
In the Life Sciences segment, subsidiaries including Biobest Group NV, Sotecna, Chemcom, and Enzybel develop and market pollination solutions, biological control and integrated pest management services, plant-derived enzymes and proteases for agriculture, cosmetics, and health care, as well as olfactory products and investments in human taste and olfaction technologies. The Gourmet Food segment, through entities such as Groupe Française de Gastronomie, Simon, and Delka, produces and markets premium products including escargots, truffle-based items, scallops Saint-Jacques (fresh and baked), stuffed shellfish, smoked salmon, seafood salads, appetizers, puff pastries, ethnic dishes, cold and hot sauces, vinegars, condiments, jams, and spreads. The Specialty Chemicals & Recycling segment, via Kimflor and SNAM, manufactures calcium-zinc and heavy metal-free stabilizers for PVC applications such as tubes and connectors, alongside recycling services for nickel/cadmium, nickel-metal hydride, lithium-ion batteries, and galvanization residues including zinc salts.
Recent strategic developments underscore Floridienne's focus on expansion in biological pest management and recycling capabilities. In late 2024 or early 2025, Biobest Group NV acquired Plant Products Inc., a leading Canadian distributor of plant protection, nutrition, seeds, and growing aids, with Sofina joining as a minority shareholder in Biobest following a related capital increase. Earlier in 2024, Biobest closed the acquisition of Brazilian firm Biotrop Participações S.A., a major player in biological solutions for open-field crop nutrition and protection, and finalized a capital increase at SNAM, Europe's leader in industrial and automotive battery recycling. Additional 2024 activities by Biobest included a CAD 10 million investment in AI-focused Ecoation Innovative Solutions Inc., participation in Arugga AI Farming's financing round with an exclusive North American distribution agreement, a majority stake in Australian Biological Services, and entry into exclusive negotiations for another integrated pest management firm.