Nexira Acquires Keragum to Secure Locust Bean Gum Supply Chain

Nexira,¹ a natural ingredients group, has acquired Keragum, a Moroccan manufacturer of carob-based ingredients.² For manufacturers relying on hydrocolloids for texture and stabilization, the deal is a reminder that ingredient reliability increasingly depends on how far upstream a supplier is willing to invest.

"With Keragum, Nexira takes a new step forward. As with acacia, our ambition is to invest as close as possible to production, securing high-quality raw materials while generating tangible local value," said Mathieu Dondain, vice president and CEO of Nexira. "Together, Keragum and Nexira will drive the stability, sustainability and long-term growth of a market we deeply believe in."

What Does Locust Bean Gum Actually Do in Food and Supplement Formulations?

Locust bean gum, also called carob gum, is a galactomannan polysaccharide derived from the endosperm of carob seeds. It is widely used across food and nutraceutical applications as a thickener, stabilizer, and texturizing agent, particularly in dairy products, ice cream, and plant-based alternatives, where it helps control ice crystal formation and improve mouthfeel.

Nexira has positioned the ingredient specifically within appetite management applications in dietary supplements, building on a hydrocolloid portfolio it has developed since establishing itself in the locust bean gum market in 2021.

Why Are Ingredient Suppliers Acquiring Companies Closer to the Raw Material Source?

This acquisition mirrors a strategy Nexira already applies to its acacia fiber business, where the company controls more than 40% of the global market, and reflects a wider trend among natural ingredient suppliers: securing tighter control over sourcing as demand grows for verifiable supply chain traceability and sustainability practices.

Keragum, based in Morocco, one of the world's leading carob-producing regions, has built partnerships with local cooperatives to source carob pods, and recently commissioned a new production facility certified to FSSC 22000, halal, kosher, and organic standards.

Olivier Houalla, COO of Nexira, described the acquisition as a template the company intends to replicate. "This acquisition tangibly strengthens our position in the carob value chain," Houalla said. "Keragum brings modern industrial capacity, a robust and traceable local sourcing network, and authentic expertise rooted in Moroccan agriculture. This is precisely the model we want to scale."

What Should Manufacturers Take Away From This Kind of Vertical Integration?

For manufacturers, deals like this reflect a broader effort by ingredient suppliers to limit exposure to the raw material volatility that has disrupted other agricultural categories in recent years, whether from shifting climate patterns, geopolitical instability, or reliance on fragmented smallholder farming networks.

Similar consolidation has already played out in categories like vanilla and cocoa, where buyers moved closer to the farm gate after years of price swings tied to weather and crop disease. Owning production directly can strengthen traceability and supply consistency, but it doesn't remove the underlying agricultural risk tied to carob harvests or regional growing conditions, and a poor season can still ripple through the supply chain regardless of who owns the facility.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

References

1. Nexira official website. Accessed July 10, 2026. https://www.nexira.com/

2. Nexira. Nexira acquires Keragum, strengthening its position of global leader in natural plant-based ingredients. Nexira. July 9, 2026. Accessed July 10, 2026. https://www.nexira.com/nexira-acquires-keragum-to-strengthen-its-carob-supply-chain/