Haarmann & Reimer Inc.

Haarmann & Reimer Inc. was the American subsidiary of the German fragrance and flavor company Haarmann & Reimer, founded in 1874 by chemists Wilhelm Haarmann and Ferdinand Tiemann in Holzminden, Germany. As a pioneering force in the synthetic fragrance industry, Haarmann & Reimer made history in 1874 when its founders successfully synthesized vanillin from coniferin, establishing the world's first industrial-scale production of synthetic fragrance substances. The U.S. subsidiary, Haarmann & Reimer Corp., operated from Springfield, New Jersey, and later Teterboro, New Jersey, serving as a crucial component of the company's global expansion strategy under parent company Bayer AG, which acquired H&R in 1953. The American operations specialized in producing fragrances, flavor compositions, aroma chemicals, and cosmetic ingredients, with significant manufacturing facilities in Ohio and Indiana dedicated to citric acid production for use in soft drinks, cosmetics, detergents, and hundreds of consumer products. As part of the global H&R Group, which employed 3,800 people worldwide and generated EUR 872 million in sales by 2001, the U.S. subsidiary played a vital role in serving North American markets with innovative chemical solutions. The company's legacy was marked by both groundbreaking scientific achievements and legal challenges, including a significant 1997 antitrust case that resulted in a $50 million criminal fine for price-fixing conspiracies. In 2002, EQT Northern Europe Private Equity Funds acquired Haarmann & Reimer from Bayer and simultaneously acquired competitor Dragoco, leading to the 2003 merger that created Symrise AG, one of the world's leading suppliers of fragrances and flavors. Today, the former Haarmann & Reimer operations continue under Symrise, maintaining the innovative spirit and technical expertise that made H&R a cornerstone of the global fragrances and flavors industry.