Our story

International:

North America:

1970s

1979
Production of animal proteins derived from pork rind launches in close partnership with a UK-based company. Protein solutions are targeted at the meat industry under the brand Protein Foods owned by Peter Holm/Danexport (later BHJ).

The production facility in Graasten (Denmark) is built and opens in 1981 initially as a joint venture. UK partner’s share is bought later by BHJ.

1980s

Intensive internationalization of the company during the 80s and 90s through worldwide establishment of subsidiaries and distributor network.

1984
LGI Inc. establishes Proliant Meat Ingredients, a valuable supplier of meat stocks, broths and flavors to leading food developers worldwide.

1990s

1991
Acquisition of the production facility in Hobro (Denmark) from Grindsted Products (Danisco), where functional and high-functional proteins derived from pork rind are still being manufactured. Back in 1991 the plant also produced soup stocks from bones.

1996
Protell Foods is established – a joint venture between Protein Foods Scandinavia and Ellco Food for the manufacture of soup stocks in Sweden. Processing equipment from Hobro is moved to Ellco Food in Stidsvig (Sweden).

2000s

Protell Foods acquires Marrow Meats, an Irish producer of soup stocks. The plant closes and production moves to Stidsvig (Sweden).

2004
LGI Inc. acquires BHJ A/S.

2006
Acquisition of Ellco Food (Sweden), a joint venture partner owned by Swedish Quality Meat. As well as the joint venture activity in Protell Foods, Ellco Food manufactures edible fats, meat and bone meal, and edible greaves, and it processes edible blood to plasma and hemoglobin.

2009
Acquisition of Danexport Rus, a sales and distribution company in Russia distributing ScanPro^TM products. This leads to the establishment of our sales subsidiary in Russia.

2010s

2008-10
Major investment in the production facility in Hobro (Denmark) including a fourth production line for ScanPro^TM T 95, a state-of-the-art fully automated packing and palletizing line, and a new warehouse.

New warehouse Hobro

2011
Sales office and facility in Argentina is established.

2012
BHJ Ingredients acquires CAP Protein in France from Diana (now Symrise). CAP Protein is a producer of high functional proteins from pork skin.

2012
LGI Inc. commissions The Lab in Ankeny (USA) occupying 20,600 sq. feet covering pilot kitchen, conference and training rooms.

The Lab, Ankeny

2012
Construction commences on stocks and broth plant in Harlan. Production starts 2014.

North America/International

2013
Merger between three significant protein producers owned by LGI Inc. - Proliant Meat Ingredients, Proliant Health, and BHJ Ingredients.

2015
Merging companies launched under one new brand, Essentia Protein Solutions.

Acquisition of Hojmark Group A/S, a fish protein research center including the production facility Danish Fish Protein A/S that manufactures stocks derived from cod, lobster, plaice and mussel.

2018
Acquisition of Scanflavour A/S, a leading protein manufacturer of meat-based protein solutions for the meat and dairy sectors.

Acquisition of Bensa/Prowico/Hewico, a group of production and distribution companies within functional ingredients and collagen peptides.