Symrise AG, a leading global supplier of flavours and fragrances, as well as cosmetic and functional ingredients, delivered a solid performance in the first half of 2026, with organic sales growth improving through the second quarter despite a still soft macroeconomic environment. Accelerated organic sales growth was supported by continued strength in Food & Beverage, Consumer Fragrance and Aroma Molecules, well supported by rebounding momentum in North America and Asia Pacific.
For the first six months of 2026, Symrise reported sales of €2,539 million and an organic sales growth of 2.0 %. Organic sales growth accelerated to 4.5 % in the second quarter. H1 adjusted EBITDA was €553 million with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 21.8 %. Profitable sales growth and efficiency measures supported earnings development, partially mitigated by investments in the ONE SYM transformation and logistics costs driven by ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Adjusted Business Free Cash Flow was up by 450 bps and reached €347 million, corresponding to a margin of 13.7 %.
Symrise continued to execute its ONE Symrise Strategy and further sharpened portfolio quality by submitting a binding offer for Floral Concept. The envisaged acquisition will strengthen Symrise’s position in Premium Naturals within Fine Fragrance. At the same time, the company accelerated the next phase of its ONE SYM Transformation program to drive faster progress towards higher profitable organic sales growth. Symrise is increasingly focused on accelerating the delivery of efficiencies and strategically reinvesting these savings into growth opportunities across the business.
Dr. Jean Yves Parisot, CEO of Symrise AG, said: “We saw increasing momentum in the second quarter, driven by disciplined execution across our businesses and strong demand in Food & Beverage, Consumer Fragrance and Aroma Molecules. We also will strengthen our portfolio through the planned acquisition of Floral Concept. We will leverage our proven Naturals capabilities, built through the acquisition of Diana and successfully established in Food & Beverage, to further expand our offering in Fine Fragrance and create differentiated solutions for our customers. At the same time, we continued to accelerate the next phase of our ONE SYM Transformation to further enhance commercial excellence, innovation and digitalization to support faster profitable growth. Based on our first half performance and current momentum, we remain confident in delivering our 2026 outlook and creating durable long-term value.”
Taste, Nutrition & Health
In the second quarter of 2026, the Taste, Nutrition & Health segment delivered organic sales growth of 4.9 %. Reported sales increased to €782 million compared with €748 million in the prior-year quarter.
The Food & Beverage division delivered market-leading mid-single-digit organic sales growth, driven by high-single-digit organic sales growth in Savory and Naturals, and mid-single-digit organic sales growth in Sweet.
The Pet Food division reported a slight organic sales decline, reflecting continued Nutrition price normalisation.
For the first half of 2026, Taste, Nutrition & Health achieved organic sales growth of 3.2 %. Reported sales amounted to €1,530 million compared with €1,527 million in the prior-year period. The segment increased adjusted EBITDA to €375 million and improved the adjusted EBITDA margin by 10 basis points to 24.5 %.
Advancing ONE Symrise strategy and accelerating ONE SYM transformation
As part of its active portfolio management approach, Symrise announced the planned acquisition of Floral Concept, a premium naturals house based in Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne, Pays de Grasse, France. The transaction will strengthen the company’s position in the attractive premium naturals market and will create an opportunity to extend its success story of naturals in flavours into fragrances. This contemplated acquisition thus matches the company’s strategy of focusing on differentiated, higher value growth opportunities.
Symrise continued to accelerate the execution of its ONE SYM Transformation program. The Company is strengthening its value chain through prioritised commercial excellence, innovation, operations and supply chain management. At the same time, Symrise is building a more scalable operating structure through standardised processes, clearer process ownership and increased digitalisation across the organisation. The company reinvests efficiency gains generated by its transformation program to support future growth opportunities while maintaining its margin ambitions.
Nutrient-dense berry, sea buckthorn, is gaining prominence in the food, beverages, and personal care industry, expanding from a niche ingredient to mainstream use across multiple categories. Driven by converging consumer demand for functional nutrition, ethical sourcing, and science-backed beauty, sea buckthorn with its rare omega-7, high vitamin C, and rich antioxidant profile is increasingly the powerhouse ingredient that brands are turning to, according to GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.
The shift is substantiated by GlobalData’s 2026 Q1 consumer survey1, in which 80 % of global consumers value natural claims when making purchase decisions, while organic and plant-based features follow closely at about 67 % and 59 %, respectively.
The berry offers a tart, citrus-like profile and supports immunity, skin health, gut health, and antioxidant protection. Long used as a botanical ingredient in traditional Himalayan and Eurasian cuisines, it is now finding its way into snacks, beverages, and cosmetics & toiletries on retail shelves worldwide.
GlobalData’s latest report “Ingredient Insights: Sea Buckthorn,” examines the ingredient’s expanding footprint across snacks, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, and cosmetics & toiletries, mapping the consumer trends and commercial opportunities available to brands.
From ancient remedy to conscious snacking staple
Consumer appetite for ingredients that deliver genuine nutritional value without synthetic additives is reshaping the snacks category, and sea buckthorn is emerging as one of its most compelling answers.
Rooted in the ethical consumption trend, sea buckthorn’s zero-waste cultivation, certified origin, and vegan credentials are a commercially significant differentiator for brands targeting younger, high-spending consumers. GlobalData’s 2025 Q3 global consumer survey2 shows that an average of 67.5 % of Millennials and Generation Z actively look for ethical or environmentally friendly products, while it tapers down to 54 % among Boomers.
Shagun Sachdeva, Practice Head, Consumer and Foodservice at GlobalData, comments: “Sea buckthorn’s transition into mainstream snacking is not accidental; it reflects an alignment between what the ingredient offers and what today’s consumer is actively seeking. Clean sourcing, functional nutrition, and a compelling origin story are now required by ingredients looking to move from niche to shelf.”
Ingredient versatility fuels beverage innovation
Sea buckthorn is rapidly becoming a versatile staple across the beverage industry. Non-alcoholic applications utilise the berry in functional, health-focused cold-pressed juices, fermented drinks, fruit-infused teas, energy drinks, hydration water and more, while alcoholic variations see it paired with hops in beers or in cocktails with craft gins or as a flavoured aperitif.
According to GlobalData 2026 Q1 global consumer survey1, 23.3 % of consumers choose unusual flavours when buying alcoholic drinks, while 15.3 % like to try new and trendy flavours.
Sachdeva explains: “Consumers are no longer willing to trade off health and taste, and sea buckthorn delivers both. What makes it more exciting in beverages is its ability to travel across consumer need states without losing credibility. It works for the athlete, the wellness seeker, the ethical buyer, and the premium drinker. That kind of versatility and cross-demographic relevance elevates sea buckthorn from a temporary trend to an ingredient with long term commercial potential.”
Hero-botanical with science-backed healthy skin claims
The third defining category where sea buckthorn is moving into the mainstream is personal care. As consumers remain concerned about the impact of chemicals on their health and appearance, beauty brands are actively transitioning this superberry from niche wellness into everyday beauty routines. While facial care remains the category anchor, its reach is expanding into sun care, body, lip care and intimate wash as formulators integrate oils, extracts, and pulps across varied product types to secure unique positioning in both mass and premium markets.
According to GlobalData 2025 Q1 global consumer survey3, about 65 % of consumers remain extremely/very concerned about the impact of chemicals on their health and appearance. The same survey highlights a strong multi-generational anxiety, with 39 % of Boomers, 52 % of Gen Y and 88 % of Millennials feeling extremely/very concerned about the impact of chemicals on their health and appearance.
Sachdeva concludes: “Driven by informed, high-spending ageing consumers, sea buckthorn is cementing its place in mainstream clean beauty. Forward-thinking brands are capturing this durable demand by going beyond traditional skincare and expanding into holistic wellness, ranging from post-procedure recovery to ingestible nutricosmetics and gut-skin health innovations.
This dual-benefit profile as an antioxidant-rich superfood and an advanced cellular repair agent establishes sea buckthorn as a premium, recession-resilient asset across the global functional nutrition and personal care industries.”
1GlobalData’s 2026 Q1 global consumer survey, 22,900 respondents across 44 countries
2GlobalData’s 2025 Q3 global consumer survey, 22,203 respondents across 42 countries
3GlobalData’s 2025 Q1 global consumer survey, 22,090 respondents across 42 countries
