Our History

CP Kelco’s history spans over 125 years, dating back to when the J.M. Huber Corporation was founded in 1883. Since our inception, we have remained steadfast in making strides across a broad range of industries to provide innovative products and services across the globe.

With the support of our employees, CP Kelco has become a dynamic, globally-directed and customer-focused company.

Explore Our History


1883 Joseph Maria Huber founds J.M. Huber Corporation as a dry colors business
1929 Kelco Company founded in San Diego, California, USA
1934 As the foundation for Copenhagen Pectin, Danish entrepreneur Karl Pedersen begins his marmalade business in Copenhagen
1944 Äänekoski, Finland, CMC plant begins operations

Nijmegen, The Netherlands, plant (built in 1928) begins producing CMC
1947 Pedersen builds pectin plant in Lille Skensved, Denmark
1950 Großenbrode, Germany, pectin plant begins operations
1954 Limeira, Brazil, pectin plant opens
1959 Kelco launches investment in world’s first commercial production of xanthan gum in San Diego
1977 Okmulgee, Oklahoma, USA, biogums plant begins production
1989 Copenhagen Pectin initiates effort to farm seaweed in Zanzibar, Tanzania, East Africa (CP Kelco is primary shareholder of Zanea Seaweed Co., Ltd.)
1992 Gellan Gum production begins in San Diego, California, USA
1997 Cebu, Philippines, carrageenan manufacturing plant built
1998 Copenhagen Pectin expands Limeira plant
2000 Kelco merges with Copenhagen Pectin to form CP Kelco

Sales and service office established by CP Kelco in Leatherhead, UK, Tokyo, Japan and Singapore
2001 Huber acquires Noviant CMC

Wulian becomes home to one of the largest xanthan gum producers in China (now CP Kelco Shandong Biological Company, Ltd.)
2003 CP Kelco and Noviant both establish sales offices in Shanghai, China
2004 Huber acquires CP Kelco
2005 Noviant becomes part of CP Kelco
2009 Taixing, China, begins CMC production