{{Short description|Danish biotechnology company}} {{Infobox company | name = Chr. Hansen A/S | logo = ChrHansen.svg | logo_size = 250px | type = Publicly traded Aktieselskab | traded_as = {{OMX|CSE75663|CHR}} | foundation = {{start date and age|1874}} | defunct = {{End date|2024|01|29}} | fate = Merged with Novozymes | successor = Novonesis | location = Hørsholm, Denmark | key_people = Dominique Reiniche (Chair), Mauricio Graber (President and CEO) | industry = Biotechnology | products = microbiological cultures, enzymes, probiotics, Human milk oligosaccharides | revenue = €1,218 million | revenue_year = 2022 | operating_income = €326 million | income_year = 2022 | net_income = €225 million | net_income_year = 2022 | assets = €3,317 million | assets_year = 2022 | equity = €181 million | num_employees = 3,834 | num_employees_year = 2021-2022 | homepage = {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102172518/https://www.chr-hansen.com/en |date=2 January 2024}} | footnotes = <ref name="Johnson2017" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Chr. Hansen Annual Report 2021{{!}}22. - Document - Gale Business: Insights|url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GBIB&u=rock21695&id=GALE%7CA723834967&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-GBIB&asid=e4959fd5|access-date=2022-12-11|website=go.gale.com|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=11 December 2022|title=NASDAQ Company Fact Sheet - Chr. Hansen Holding A/S|url=https://lt.morningstar.com/gj8uge2g9k/stockprofile/default.aspx?SecurityToken=0P0000OO3C]3]1]E0EXG$XCSE_3060&externalidexchange=EX$$$$XCSE&LanguageId=en-GB&CurrencyId=DKK&BaseCurrencyId=DKK&tab=-1&ClearXrayPortfolioManagerApiInputData=true&xid=DK0060227585|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221211235335/https://lt.morningstar.com/gj8uge2g9k/stockprofile/default.aspx?SecurityToken=0P0000OO3C%5D3%5D1%5DE0EXG$XCSE_3060&externalidexchange=EX$$$$XCSE&LanguageId=en-GB&CurrencyId=DKK&BaseCurrencyId=DKK&tab=-1&ClearXrayPortfolioManagerApiInputData=true&xid=DK0060227585|archive-date=11 December 2022|access-date=11 December 2022|website=NASDAQ Copenhagen|language=en}}</ref> }}
'''Chr. Hansen A/S''' was a biotechnology company based in Hørsholm, Denmark. The company is a supplier of bacteria cultures, probiotics, enzymes<ref name="Johnson2017">{{cite encyclopedia|title=Chr. Hansen Group A/S|encyclopedia=International Directory of Company Histories|date=2017|editor-last=Johnson|editor-first=Drew D.|publisher=St. James Press|location=Farmington Hills, MI|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/I2501321368/GBIB?u=rock21695&sid=bookmark-GBIB&xid=fe235d0f|url-access=subscription|access-date=11 December 2022}}</ref> and human milk oligosaccharides. Its products are used in the production of fresh dairy, cheese, meat, seafood, fermented beverages, dairy and meat alternatives, dietary supplements, infant formula, pharmaceuticals and agricultural products.<ref name="Johnson2017" /> In 2021, Chr. Hansen A/S was ranked 1st on FoodTalks' Top 30 Global Probiotic Food Ingredient Companies list.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Zhao|first=Viola|date=2021-04-20|title=2021年全球食用益生菌原料企业30强|url=https://www.foodtalks.cn/news/foodnews/top_100/5723|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-19|website=FoodTalks|language=zh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117114202/https://www.foodtalks.cn/news/foodnews/top_100/5723|archive-date=2022-01-17 }}</ref> Chr. Hansen owns one of the world's largest commercial bacteria collections.<ref name="Johnson2017" /> The company merged with Novozymes to form Novonesis in January 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wihlander|first=Beatrice|date=19 December 2022|title=Chr. Hansen and Novozymes write history as Denmark’s largest merger, scaling up production|url=https://ni.cnsmedia.com/a/UPnlrnIEKVg=|access-date=2024-04-22|website=Nutrition Insight|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Novonesis |title=The combination of Novozymes and Chr. Hansen is now successfully completed, creating Novonesis – a leading global biosolutions partner |url=https://www.novonesis.com/en/news/combination-of-novozymes-and-chr-hansen-now-successfully-completed |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250423221141/https://www.novonesis.com/en/news/combination-of-novozymes-and-chr-hansen-now-successfully-completed |archive-date=2025-04-23 |access-date=2026-02-04 |website=www.novonesis.com |language=en}}</ref>
Chr. Hansen A/S has development centers in Denmark, the United States, France and Germany<ref name="Johnson2017" /> including research facilities in Denmark and France. A large percentage of the employees engage in research and development for the international food and pharmaceuticals industries.
Chr. Hansen A/S has five main production sites: two in Denmark and Germany (Nienburg and Pohlheim) and one each in France (Arpajon) and the US (West Allis, WI) and an international presence in 30 countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cdn.chr-hansen.com/_/media/files/chrhansen/home/investors/reports-and-presentations/2020-21/q4/annual-report-2020-21.pdf?rev=f0c8daddfc734926ad3ab950c090ef3b&hash=167731B63EE59F7AEA85823C8A3E6D33|title=Annual Report 2020/2021|accessdate=21 June 2022|publisher=Chr. Hansen}}</ref><ref name="Johnson2017" /> It was previously listed on Nasdaq OMX Copenhagen under the symbol "CHR".
==History== The company is named for its founder, Christian D. A. Hansen,<ref name="Johnson2017" /> a pioneering Danish chemist whose work focused on enzymes.<ref name="Foss2012" /> Hansen began the company in 1874<ref name="Foss2012" /> as a joint venture with pharmacist H.P. Madsen.
Initial products included animal rennet for cheese-making<ref name="Foss2012" /><ref name="Johnson2017" /> as well as annatto-based coloring agents for butter and cheese.<ref name="Johnson2017" /> Operations in the United States were begun in 1878.<ref name="Foss2012" /> Their lines soon expanded to include starter cultures for cheese, yogurt and sour cream. In 1890 Hansen purchased Lock Island in the Mohawk River in Little Falls, New York, for a manufacturing facility, renaming the island "Hansen Island".<ref>{{Cite web|title=History: Hansen Island|url=https://www.chr-hansen.com/en/about-us/history#event-hansen-island|access-date=2024-09-01|website=Chr. Hansen|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Little Falls Waterways|url=https://littlefallshistoricalsociety.org/museum-exhibit/little-falls-waterways/|access-date=2024-09-01|website=Little Falls Historical Society Museum|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Johnson2017" /> Hansen's son Johannes took over the company in 1916 upon his father's death. That same year, the company began production in England<ref name="Johnson2017" /> to bypass the German blockade of exports to Great Britain and beyond during World War I. Facilities in Italy and Germany followed in 1936<ref name="Johnson2017" /> during the inter-war period. By 1951, Hansen began production in Australia.<ref name="Johnson2017" /> Further international expansion in places such as South America followed,<ref name="Johnson2017" /> and from the 1970s to the 1990s saw a period of acquisition of other firms.<ref name="Johnson2017" /> The company released its first probiotic in 1987.<ref name="Johnson2017" /> In 1991, the Lundbeck Foundation obtained majority control of the company and initiated a major restructuring into a holding company format.<ref name="Johnson2017" /> Additional growth and consolidation followed, and Chr. Hansen Group was spun off into a separate, independent company in May 2005<ref>{{cite web|title=The History of Chr. Hansen: the first 140 years|url=http://www.chr-hansen.com/about-us/history|accessdate=30 November 2015|publisher=Chr. Hansen}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/chr-hansen-group-a-s-history/|title=Chr. Hansen Group A/S History|accessdate=30 November 2015|publisher=FundingUniverse}}</ref><ref name="Foss2012">{{cite book|author1=Nicolai J. Foss|author2=Torben Pedersen|author3=Jacob Pyndt|author4=Majken Schultz|date=January 12, 2012|title=Innovating Organization and Management: New Sources of Competitive Advantage|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1Jk7MLnpFW0C&q=chr+hansen+history&pg=PA140|location=Cambridge, UK|publisher=Cambridge University Press|pages=140–157|isbn=978-1-107-01105-2|oclc=732967810}}</ref> which allowed the company to focus on long-term growth strategies rather than quarterly goals.<ref name="Johnson2017" />
In December 2022, Chr. Hansen started the merger with Novozymes.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2023-03-30|title=Combination between Novozymes and Chr. Hansen approved by Novozymes’ shareholders|url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/03/30/2637510/0/en/Combination-between-Novozymes-and-Chr-Hansen-approved-by-Novozymes-shareholders.html#:~:text=On%20December%2012,%202022,%20Novozymes,(the%20%22Combination%22)|access-date=2024-09-01|website=GlobeNewswire News Room|language=en}}</ref> It is planned to be implemented at the end of 2023. The proposed merger between Novozymes A/S (‘Novozymes') and Christian Hansen A/S (‘Chr. Hansen') is regarded by the European Commission as conditional with the commitments offered by the parties.<ref>{{Cite web|date=12 December 2023|title=Commission clears Novozymes and Chr. Hansen merger, subject to conditions|url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_6525|access-date=2024-09-01|website=European Commission}}</ref>
The company in June 2023 succumbed to pressure from right-wing religious groups in the US and dropped support to their LGBT+ staff.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nielsen|first=Joacim Præst|date=2023-06-26|title=Chr. Hansen fjerner støtte til lgbt+-miljøet efter pres|url=http://borsen.dk/nyheder/virksomheder/chr-hansen-fjerner-stotte-til-lgbt-miljoet-efter-pres|access-date=2023-06-26|website=borsen.dk|language=da}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Hamilton|first=Ben|date=2023-06-27|title=Top Danish company hugely criticised for withdrawing support for Pride due to US threats|url=https://cphpost.dk/2023-06-27/news/top-danish-company-hugely-criticised-for-withdrawing-support-for-pride-due-to-us-threats/|access-date=2024-09-01|website=The Copenhagen Post|language=en-GB}}</ref> This caused widespread staff protest. Meanwhile, the merger partner Novozymes has maintained its stance as full LGBT+ allies.
In December 2023, it was announced that name of the new company formed as a result of the merger between Chr. Hansen and Novozymes will be Novonesis.<ref>{{cite web |title=Novozymes, Chr. Hansen to take new name following combination |url=https://www.ncbiotech.org/news/novozymes-chr-hansen-take-new-name-following-combination |website=North Carolina Biotechnology Center |author=Chris Capot |date=2023-12-15 |access-date=2026-01-07}}</ref>
==Sustainability== Chr. Hansen began looking for healthier meat alternatives in the mid-1970s due to rising problems within the chicken and meat industry.<ref name="Johnson2017" /> In 2019 Chr. Hansen was ranked as the most sustainable company in the world. The ranking was given by the Canadian business and society magazine ''Corporate Knights'' and was announced at the World Economics Forum in Davos, Switzerland.<ref>{{cite web|last=Eisenberg|first=Peter B. Rasmussen og Erik|date=22 January 2019|title=To danske virksomheder topper listen over verdens mest bæredygtige firmaer: Se listen her|url=http://borsen.dk/nyheder/virksomheder/artikel/1/375571/to_danske_virksomheder_topper_listen_over_verdens_mest_baeredygtige_firmaer_se_listen_her.html|accessdate=28 January 2019|website=borsen.dk|language=da}}</ref>
In November 2021, Chr. Hansen launched climate targets for 2030 and began to reduce its carbon footprint in an effort to meet those targets.<ref>{{cite web|date=15 November 2021|title=Chr. Hansen launches science-based climate targets and embarks on a focused decarbonization journey|url=https://www.chr-hansen.com/en/media/press-releases/2021/11/chr-hansen-launches-sciencebased-climate-targets-and-embarks-on-a-focused-decarbonization-journey|accessdate=21 June 2022|website=Chr. Hansen}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == *{{Official website|http://www.chr-hansen.com/}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hansen, Chr.}} Category:Companies listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen Category:Food and drink companies of Denmark Category:Biotechnology companies of Denmark Category:Companies based in Hørsholm Municipality Category:Danish companies established in 1874 Category:Companies in the OMX Copenhagen 25