Groupe Berkem acquires Laboratoires Eriger

Groupe Berkem, a French biochemicals supplier, is acquiring Laboratoires Eriger and its patented encapsulation technology for phyto-active ingredients.

Founded in March 2019 by Éric Buchy and Gérald Chomat in Tours, France, Laboratoires Eriger offers its customers innovative solutions for encapsulating phyto-active ingredients using chlorophyll.

Due to the physico-chemical properties of chlorophyll, the active molecules are encapsulated in small capsules that are invisible to the naked eye, protecting them from the external environment and preventing premature degradation (loss of efficacy). These capsules are stable under different conditions and can, for example, be used to dissolve fatty substances in an aqueous environment, offering formulators new perspectives in the design of finished products. The technology, called PhytoVec, improves the stability of phyto-active ingredients, facilitating their use in formulations and increasing their efficacy. The technology also protects fragrance molecules, enhances sensory properties and helps reduce the use of preservatives in cosmetic and personal care applications.

Olivier Fahy, Chairman and CEO of Groupe Berkem, said: "Their patented PhytoVec technology for microencapsulating phytoactive ingredients using chlorophyll contained in plants is a major breakthrough and we intend to exploit the full potential of this technology."

The production tools of Laboratoires Eriger will be transferred to Berkem's industrial site in Chartres, which is currently dedicated to freeze drying, a sublimation low-temperature drying technology for plant materials and sensitive products.

"In a market that is constantly seeking naturalness, the integration of Laboratoires Eriger's active ingredients represents an important step forward, allowing us to offer even more innovative solutions to our customers and prospects," Fahy continued.

Thanks to the PhytoVec technology, Groupe Berkem is now able to produce microcapsules of chlorophyll-based products such as hydroalcoholic solutions and serums. The Group is also committed to integrating certain products developed by Laboratoires Eriger into its own cosmetics range.

"The acquisition of Laboratoires Eriger's business by Groupe Berkem represents a true industrial continuation of the PhytoVec technology. I am delighted to see the ambition of Groupe Berkem, embodied by Olivier Fahy and his team, to establish the PhytoVec technology as an essential reference in the encapsulation of phytoactive ingredients. I am convinced that our shared expertise will be the driving force of our future success. It is therefore with great enthusiasm that I join Groupe Berkem in this new journey, with the goal of making plants an essential pillar of future chemistry," added Eric Buchy, CEO of Laboratoires Eriger.

The transaction closed on March 6, 2025, and financial terms were not disclosed.