
TIC Gums is owned by Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE: INGR), a publicly traded global ingredient solutions company headquartered in Westchester, Illinois. Ingredion acquired TIC Gums in December 2016 for approximately $400 million in cash. TIC Gums was founded in 1909 as Tragacanth Importing Co. and is headquartered in White Marsh, Maryland, USA. It operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary within Ingredion's specialty ingredients portfolio.
Parent Company
Acquired
2016
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| TIC Gums | Ingredion Incorporated | Wholly owned |
TIC Gums was founded in 1909 as Tragacanth Importing Co., initially focused on importing and distributing tragacanth gum, a natural hydrocolloid derived from the sap of the astragalus shrub. The company's name was later shortened to TIC Gums, reflecting its broader focus on technical and industrial applications of gums.
Hydrocolloids are ingredients that form gels or viscous solutions when dispersed in water, making them valuable for controlling texture, stability, and mouthfeel in food and beverage products. TIC Gums developed expertise in formulating blends of different gum types to achieve specific functional properties for customer applications, a technically demanding capability that requires deep knowledge of how different hydrocolloids interact with each other and with other food ingredients.
The Andon family took over the company in 1949, with Ash Andon building the business by specializing in natural and water-soluble hydrocolloids. Over the next five decades, the company expanded its product line to include a full range of hydrocolloids and customized gum systems. The Andon family operated TIC Gums across three generations, with Steve Andon and Greg Andon leading the company into the modern era.
In 1987, TIC Gums moved to a new manufacturing and research and development facility in Belcamp, Maryland. The company later expanded to its current headquarters at 10552 Philadelphia Road in White Marsh, Maryland. This mid-Atlantic location provided proximity to food manufacturers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets. TIC Gums built its business serving food and beverage companies seeking customized stabilizing and texturizing solutions, with a particular focus on smaller and mid-sized innovative companies that required more technical support and customization than large commodity ingredient suppliers could provide.
Throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, TIC Gums expanded its product portfolio and technical capabilities, developing proprietary gum blend formulations for applications including dairy products, beverages, sauces, dressings, baked goods, and other food categories. The company's technical service capability, which helped customers select and optimize gum systems for their specific applications, became a key competitive differentiator. TIC Gums celebrated 90 years in the hydrocolloids business in 1999 with a ribbon-cutting for a facility expansion.
By the mid-2010s, TIC Gums had established itself as a leading specialty hydrocolloid supplier with revenues that made it an attractive acquisition target for larger ingredient companies seeking to expand their specialty portfolios. The company's customer base among innovative small and mid-sized food companies was particularly valuable, as this segment was growing rapidly due to the proliferation of specialty food brands and the clean-label trend.
In December 2016, Ingredion Incorporated acquired TIC Gums for approximately $400 million in cash. The acquisition price reflected TIC Gums' strong market position in specialty hydrocolloids and the strategic value of its customer relationships among innovative food companies. Ingredion's rationale was to add TIC Gums' hydrocolloid expertise and customer base to its existing specialty ingredients portfolio, complementing its starch, sweetener, and other functional ingredient products.
Following the acquisition, TIC Gums continued to operate from its White Marsh, Maryland base under its established brand identity. The TIC Gums brand carries strong recognition in the specialty food ingredient market, and Ingredion has maintained it as a distinct brand within its portfolio. As of 2026, TIC Gums employs approximately 31 people and generates an estimated $47 million in annual revenue.
What does Ingredion own?
Ingredion owns six acquired brands and subsidiaries: PureCircle (stevia sweeteners), TIC Gums (stabilizers and texturizers), Penford (potato starch derivatives), Kerr Concentrates (fruit and vegetable concentrates), KaTech (texture and stabilization solutions), and Verdient Foods (plant-based proteins). The company also produces commodity starches and sweeteners under the Ingredion brand name.
Is Ingredion publicly traded?
Yes, Ingredion is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol INGR. The company has been listed since its IPO and has a market capitalization of approximately $8.7 billion based on mid-2025 share prices. Shares are available through major brokerage accounts.
Who founded Ingredion?
Ingredion was founded in 1906 as Corn Products Refining Company through the merger of several leading US corn refiners. The company was renamed Ingredion in 2012 to reflect its evolution from a commodity corn refiner to a diversified ingredient solutions provider.
Where is Ingredion headquartered?
Ingredion is headquartered in Westchester, Illinois, USA, a suburb of Chicago. The company operates manufacturing facilities and innovation centers across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Thailand, South Korea, and China.
How many brands does Ingredion own?
Ingredion owns six acquired brands: PureCircle, TIC Gums, Penford, Kerr Concentrates, KaTech, and Verdient Foods. The company also markets its commodity ingredients under the Ingredion master brand.
What is Ingredion's revenue?
Ingredion reported net sales of $7.2 billion for FY2025, down 3% from $7.4 billion in FY2024. Despite the sales decline, adjusted operating income reached a record $1.03 billion and adjusted diluted EPS was $11.13, up 4.5%. The company guides FY2026 EPS to be in the range of $11.00 to $11.80.
What does Ingredion produce?
Ingredion produces starches, sweeteners, and specialty ingredients from corn and other agricultural raw materials. Its products include high-fructose corn syrup, dextrose, corn starch, specialty texturizers, stevia-based sweeteners, stabilizers, gums, fruit and vegetable concentrates, and plant-based proteins. These ingredients are used in food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, brewing, and industrial applications.
TIC Gums does not hold independent sustainability certifications such as organic, fair trade, or B Corp status. Its environmental and ethical profile is tied to Ingredion's corporate sustainability programs under the 2030 All Life framework.
Ingredion achieved 66.8 percent progress toward its goal of sustainably sourcing 100 percent of Tier 1 priority crops (corn, tapioca, potatoes, stevia, and peas/pulses) by 2025. Of these sustainably sourced crops, 14.6 percent of growers achieved SAI Platform's FSA Gold level certification. TIC Gums benefits from this sustainable sourcing network for its plant-based hydrocolloid ingredients.
Ingredion is a founding member of the Sustainable Ag Initiative (SAI) Platform's Regenerative Together framework, which standardizes regenerative agriculture practices. TIC Gums' plant-based gum sources benefit from this commitment to sustainable farming practices.
TIC Gums specializes in natural hydrocolloid systems that help food manufacturers achieve clean-label formulations, reducing reliance on synthetic additives. This aligns with growing consumer demand for natural, recognizable ingredients in food products. However, "clean-label" is a marketing category rather than an independently verified certification.
Ingredion maintains comprehensive policies including a Human Rights Policy, Environmental Health and Safety Policy, and Animal Testing Policy. TIC Gums operates under these frameworks. The company has not faced public regulatory actions or environmental violations related to its White Marsh operations.
TIC Gums has received recognition within the specialty food ingredients industry for its technical expertise and innovation in hydrocolloid systems. The company celebrated 90 years in the hydrocolloids business in 1999 with a facility expansion ribbon-cutting ceremony covered by Bakery Online.
TIC Gums is recognized within the food ingredient industry for its expertise in formulating custom hydrocolloid blends and technical service capabilities. The company's ability to solve complex texture and stability challenges for food manufacturers has earned it a reputation as a technical leader in specialty hydrocolloids.
As part of Ingredion, TIC Gums contributes to the parent company's recognition for sustainability excellence. Ingredion's plant proteins, which complement TIC Gums' texturizing systems, were recognized for sustainability excellence in 2024.
TIC Gums' natural hydrocolloid systems support the clean label trend, contributing to Ingredion's recognition for innovative solutions that help food manufacturers meet consumer demand for natural ingredients. The company's expertise in replacing synthetic stabilizers with natural alternatives has been acknowledged by industry observers.
The company's acquisition by Ingredion for $400 million in 2016 reflected market recognition of TIC Gums' value and technical capabilities in the specialty hydrocolloid market. TIC Gums has not received formal industry awards from independent awarding bodies. Its recognition comes primarily from industry reputation and customer relationships.
TIC Gums has maintained a clean operational record without major product recalls or significant controversies throughout its history. The company's focus on B2B ingredient supply and compliance with food safety standards has contributed to this record.
TIC Gums operates under stringent food safety regulations required for food ingredient manufacturers. The company has maintained compliance with FDA regulations and international food safety standards, with no major food safety incidents or product recalls reported in its operational history.
The 2016 acquisition by Ingredion was completed without reported integration controversies or employee disputes. The $400 million transaction was well-received by the market. TIC Gums has not faced significant environmental violations or regulatory penalties at its White Marsh, Maryland facilities.
TIC Gums has not reported significant labor disputes or employee relations issues, maintaining stable workforce management throughout its independent operations and following the Ingredion acquisition. The primary business challenge for TIC Gums has been competitive pressure from other hydrocolloid suppliers like CP Kelco and Cargill, rather than regulatory or reputational issues.
No direct competitors found in the same category. This could be because TIC Gumsoperates in a unique market segment or we're still building our competitor database.
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