Payan Bertrand, which supplies leading names in the international fragrance and cosmetics industry, says that the move should help to increase its €11 million annual sales by around €4 million.
In the past couple of years the company has been eyeing further growth. This was augmented in 2004, with the opening of its second production facility at Grasse, southern France, focusing exclusively on fragrance production.
General Aromatics is based in nearby St Cezaire and makes 75 per cent of its sales from the fine fragrance business, with the remaining business mainly attributed to the personal care industry.
The merger means that the company's production facility will be closed down and its 16 staff incorporated into Payan Bertrand's two existing production sites, where a staff of 60 is currently employed.
Currently Payan Bertrand's business is made up of 70 per cent fragrance manufacturing and 30 per cent flavours manufacturing. Of the total production, approximately 80 per cent is exported.
The company is currently present in 50 markets and its manufacturing plant also incoporates its own research and development facility.