FRANKFURT, GERMANY (18 November 2003) - - Exhibiting at the Food Ingredients Europe bi-annual event, D.D. Williamson, a 138-year-old company, announces the 25th anniversary of its Little Island Industrial Estate plant in County Cork, Ireland. The celebration took place on September 19th. Visiting from head offices in the USA were Gouverneur “Bo” Nixon, retired Chairman, and his daughter, Edith Nixon, President of D.D. Williamson (Ireland) Ltd.

“The County Cork, Ireland plant was our first manufacturing facility outside of North America,” commented Edith Nixon. “Thanks to its success, we have added additional plants around the world.”

The 25th anniversary celebration included a ceremonial tree planting to symbolize continued growth of the company. “For the past 25 years we’ve experienced consistent product development and increased sales opportunities,” said Loretto Collins, Technical Manager, who has worked for D.D. Williamson (Ireland) Ltd since its inception. Employment at the Irish operation has expanded from six associates in 1978 to twenty-five today. Caramel color produced at the Irish plant is used by food and beverage processors throughout Europe, Russia, Central Asia, the Middle East and Northern Africa. The Irish plant was recently certified to the new ISO 9001:2000 standard.

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D.D. Williamson was founded in the USA in 1865. Today, it is the world’s largest manufacturer of caramel color. D.D. Williamson produces caramel color for leading, global brand names in beverages, baked goods, soups, sauces, dry mixes, and pharmaceuticals. The company has manufacturing locations in the USA, Puerto Rico, Ireland, China, Swaziland, and Brazil. For more information, visit www.caramel.com.

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