Mane is making a strategic play for the next generation of citrus and beverage innovation, acquiring Florida-based specialty ingredient supplier Cvista and transforming its Riverview, Florida, operation into a global Citrus and Beverage Center of Excellence. The move gives Mane deeper control over a critical part of the citrus value chain while adding Cvista’s specialized fractionation technology, sourcing expertise and high-purity natural ingredients to its U.S. platform.
In an exclusive interview with Bertrand Boulin, Mane's director of chemical industries: natural specialities and research and development, discusses how the combination of companies could accelerate citrus innovation, unlock new opportunities for trace compounds such as valencene and nootkatone, and help formulators navigate increasingly volatile citrus supply chains.
"The acquisition of Cvista provides Mane with a unique advantage in the fractionation and purification of citrus compounds, thanks to a highly skilled team with deep expertise in this field," says Boulin. "By combining Cvista’s know-how with Mane’s renowned perfumers and flavorists, we are now positioned to deliver innovative and differentiated solutions to our customers. This synergy will accelerate the development of more precise, authentic, and market-relevant citrus profiles, fundamentally enhancing our approach to citrus innovation in the U.S and beyond."
The acquisition is particularly significant for the specialty citrus fractions that sit behind more differentiated flavor profiles.
Cvista works across orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit and apple, serving roughly 130 customers worldwide. It uses distillation, extraction, resin-based processing and molecular distillation to isolate and purify trace compounds that occur naturally in citrus oils.
Among its featured ingredients are valencene, a key contributor to the characteristic orange profile; decanal, which delivers powerful citrus and aldehydic effects; and nootkatone, a signature grapefruit-impact molecule prized for its distinctive bitter-citrus character.
By concentrating compounds present at very low levels in raw materials, Cvista can turn relatively minor constituents of citrus oils into high-value, difficult-to-substitute ingredients.
That capability could give Mane greater flexibility in designing more precise, natural and differentiated citrus profiles, rather than relying solely on conventional whole oils or standardized citrus fractions.
"The combined strengths of Mane and Cvista unlock tremendous opportunities, especially as consumer demand for refreshment and wellness grows alongside the need for clean label and transparency," says Boulin. "Cvista’s advanced fractionation capabilities, together with Mane’s expertise in taste and application, enable us to deliver citrus experiences with unmatched precision and nuance. This partnership allows us to tailor flavor profiles to specific products, formats, and brand identities, positioning our customers at the forefront of innovation with access to cutting-edge technologies and best-in-class taste solutions."
He adds, "Highly purified citrus fractions offer significant potential to create distinctive and authentic citrus signatures, explore new varietal nuances, and develop sophisticated profiles across segments such as flavored waters, premium low- and no-alcohol drinks, and functional beverages. These fractions can also help balance challenging taste profiles while maintaining an authentic citrus character."
And, says Boulin, "From a formulation perspective, they provide creators with precise tools to restore delicate notes lost during processing, enhance recipes with lower juice content, and maintain profile consistency despite variations in citrus raw materials. Moreover, advanced separation techniques allow us to leverage a broader range of natural citrus inputs to create unique flavors, supporting more sustainable and stable supply solutions (e.g., using orange fractions to build a lemon profile)."
Mane says the new Florida center will bring R&D, pilot-scale production and manufacturing closer to key citrus sourcing regions while creating a dedicated global platform for beverage development. The facility also expands the potential of Mane’s recent partnership with Arzeda around ViaLeaf Reb M, positioning citrus expertise alongside sweetener technology as the company targets the rapidly evolving reduced-sugar and functional beverage market.
"The Riverview center will consolidate the combined expertise of Mane and Cvista, integrating Cvista’s pilot and technical capabilities with an application lab developed using Mane’s resources," Boulin explains. "Our goal is to bring together all competencies on a single site—from the initial citrus oil to the final application—supporting both Mane’s creative teams and external customers."
He adds, "This global citrus and beverage ingredient center of excellence will complement our applied beverage flavor and prototype labs in key locations worldwide, which remain essential for responding quickly to local customer needs and briefs across diverse segments. As an example, the Tampa and Lebanon teams will work in close partnership, each contributing their unique strengths and expertise. Together, the two sites will provide complementary, end-to-end capabilities that neither could deliver alone."
In addition, he says, "By having a dedicated citrus and beverage center alongside our regional application labs, we can create solutions from A to Z and significantly accelerate innovation from concept to commercialization, enabling us to bring world-class citrus and beverage ingredients and complete beverage solutions to customers faster and more effectively across all applications."
Of course, citrus supply is increasingly exposed to challenges around climate, disease, crop volatility and sourcing costs. Perfumer & Flavorist+ asked Boulin how the deal might provide Mane greater supply-chain resilience.
"Cvista is uniquely positioned to overcome supply-chain risks and challenges, thanks to its global reach and strategic partnerships with leading citrus and apple processors worldwide," he explains. "This enables us to respond rapidly to disruptions—whether climate-related or geopolitical—ensuring continuity and reliability for our customers."
Boulin adds, "Located just 10 miles from the Port of Tampa in West-Central Florida, Cvista can source raw materials from diverse origins, creating a robust vendor network spanning every major citrus and apple growing region. Our extensive tank-farm storage capacity allows us to build buffer inventories, guaranteeing reliable supply even during market volatility."
Finally, he says, "Supported by a skilled team and advanced local processing capabilities, we can easily adapt to fluctuations in raw material quality and availability. The new global citrus center of excellence further enhances our ability to innovate, transforming by-products into valuable ingredients and advancing sustainability by reducing waste and maximizing resource utilization. With these strengths, Cvista delivers reliable, high-quality, and innovative solutions—driving value for our customers and supporting a more sustainable supply chain."
