On September 30, 2025, Turpaz Industries announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire 60% of the shares of South African flavor company Nicola-J. The transaction, which includes Turpaz’s subsidiary Sunspray, is expected to be completed in the coming months, and the agreement includes a mutual option to purchase the remaining 40% of shares pending business performance.
Founded in 1997, Nicola-J produces and markets sweet and savory flavors, colorants, essential oils and botanical extracts for the food and beverage industry. The company operates in South Africa with R&D laboratories, a manufacturing plant and office space in Johannesburg. Further, Nicola-J serves customers in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, Botswana, Kenya and more.
According to the press release, Nicola-J’s founders Jason Vlantis, Nicky Vlantis and Gary Boast, as well as the company’s chief executive officer Dr. Karina Rogers, will continue to lead Nicola-J.
“We are pleased to welcome Nicola-J to the Turpaz group,” said Karen Cohen Chazon, chief executive officer of Turpaz. “This acquisition represents another step in our expansion in the African flavor markets. Nicola-J synergistically complements Sunspray’s operations in South Africa, joining the group with a high-quality product portfolio, experienced management and a broad and diverse customer base. This acquisition adds professional expertise, expands our customer and product portfolio and strengthens our operations in Africa.”
According to a recent audit report, Nicola-J recorded annual sales of $6.6 million, with a profitability rate similar to that of Turpaz’s Taste division. Turpaz hopes that this acquisition will strengthen its position in South Africa, which has a diverse, young and growing population of over 60 million people.
In a joint statement, Nicola-J’s leadership said, “We are delighted to join the Turpaz group and embark together on a new and promising chapter for Nicola-J. The combination of the local knowledge and experience we have accumulated over decades together with Turpaz’s global capabilities will allow us to expand our operations and provide our customers with greater added-value. We believe that the partnership with Turpaz will create a strong platform for expansion into additional African markets while continuing to invest in the development of innovative products and deepening our relationships with our customers.”
