Takasago International Signs Madagascar Vanilla Deal

TOKYOTakasago International Corp. entered into a joint venture with Ramanandraibe Export Co., the largest vanilla producer in Madagascar. The agreement, signed Sept. 20, 2012, provides Takasago with a major competitive advantage in securing vanilla, while achieving price stability and cost effectiveness.

Located in Sava, an area between Sambava and Antalaha, the 60-hectare vanilla plantation acquired by Takasago is called "Domain of Ambohimanitra," an evocative name that means    the hill of a thousand fragrances."

Takasago is able to cultivate, harvest, process and extract its own vanilla locally, selecting the best vanilla pod quality and influencing the whole curing process. The curing process is essential for the development of vanillas signature aroma and taste, and is used to preserve the more than 200 flavor compounds present in the vanilla planifolia beans.

The crude vanilla extracts processed in the Madagascar factory in Tamatave are shipped to Takasago Morocco in Agadir, a recently acquired facility that specializes in the extraction and customization of key natural raw materials, including vanilla.