from family concern to international holding company back print

A family-owned company, CNI has developed in Europe and worldwide over the past 3 successive generations.

CNI history milestones

THE BIRTH OF A NEW MARKET
 
In 1895, Charles Dondain discovered that the properties of water-soluble plant gums can be used in several applications. He therefore organized an acacia gum trade and positioned his product for use in new confectionery, pharmacy, textile printing and paper finishing markets. These original uses of plant gums revolutionize these industries and saw the birth and successful rise of the Ets Charles Dondain company.

Charles DONDAIN, grandfather of the Company's present chairmen, was settled in Marseille and was a trader in exotic edible products such as: liquorice and cocoa beans, dried coconuts, almonds, nuts, kola nuts and vegetable gums coming from Asia, Middle East and African countries.

In order to secure his supplies, Charles DONDAIN set out on his own purchasing expeditions. he then left Marseille, the largest colonial harbour, for Africa and was sailing for a week when he reached Dakar. He carried on to Abidjan, Djibouti , and Calcutta in India. From there, he used to go to production sites, using local travel means, particularly in West Mauritania.

THE INDUSTRIAL SHIFT
 

The company entered its industrial age in 1947, when the son of Charles Dondain, Raymond, introduced the company to the European acacia gum trade. To back-up its international growth, the company invested in a technical and commercial structure and became IRANEX.

Between the first and second World War, gum market was expanding strongly. Natural gum is not only used for dietary applications like cough drops or liquorice pastilles, but also for textile printing (silk, cotton). This last use is more specific of Iranian gums like Adragante or Zedou gum thanks to their specific surface treatment properties .

As for acacia gum, it is mainly used for surface treatment, paper gumming , envelopes and stamps, desk glue and children's water painting. At this time, mucilaginous gums are more important than gums from Africa

After World War II, the market of synthetic fibres started growing, colors became synthetic as well and gums and thickeners were replaced by synthetic or chemically modified colloids.

In 1975, when Marseille seaport looses its privilege status, IRANEX moves to Rouen, first cereal seaport in France, which is still its actual implantation.
INTERNATIONAL pRESENCE
 

Since 1984, the third generation of the Dondain family, Gontran and his brother Stéphane, have developed an industry based on water-soluble plant gums. Receptive to its customer, IRANEX has integrated new skills to extend its activities to fundamental and applied research, production, sales and technical service. The creation in 1988 of the IRANEX holding company, allows the company to continue its expansion. In 1990, IRANEX COLLOIDES NATURELS become CNI, COLLOIDES NATURELS INTERNATIONAL with a presence in over 75 countries.