Chr. Hansen, Milwaukee, Wis., announced a more than $10-million expansion of two of its facilities in Wisconsin. The expansion allows it to continue its export growth and gives the biotech company increased production volume of its cultures for the dairy industry. Donald Combs, Chr. Hansen-North America president and chief executive officer, said the company is planning another $10-million to $12-million expansion in Milwaukee within the next 12 to 18 months. “We have expanded our exports by 40 percent in the past three years to more than $19 million.”

Danisco completed the acquisition of Rhodia Food Ingredients this month. The acquisition expand’s Danisco’s product portfolio with the addition of specialty products and texurants. Rhodia Food Ingredients will be integrated into Danisco through the formation of a new division — Danisco Cultures — that will be headed by Fabienne Saadane-Oaks. Other activities will be absorbed into the Specialties, Textural Ingredients and Functional Systems divisions.

Mastertaste Inc., the flavor arm of the Kerry Group, bought four more flavor companies: J Manheimer Inc., Teterboro, N.J.; Flavurence, Los Angeles, Calif.; Mexico-based Laboratorios Krauss, and Italy-based Fructamine.

TIC Gums has named Scott Riefler the company’s new president. Prior to becoming president, Riefler served as vice president of sales at TIC Gums.

Takasago International Corp. was recently awarded a second place PRISM (Private Sector Multi Evaluation System) position in research and development. The company was selected from the top 300 corporations in Japan by Nihon Keizai Shimbum Inv. (Nikkei), publisher of Japan’s largest economic daily.