Ohly operates five plants, three in the United States, one in Germany, and one in China.
The Hutchinson, Minnesota plant was once a local creamery, The Hutchinson CO-OP Creamery, a regional supplier of dairy products. In 1974 the dairy operation was converted to a drying facility for the newly constructed torula yeast fermentation plant. The factory joined the Burns Philp Group in 1989 as Pure Culture Products. In 1992 the production of spray dried vinegar powders based on the Fleischmann’s brand of vinegar was started. These products were offered as flavourings and acidulants in various dry seasoning mixes for the food industry.
In 1993 Burns Philp purchased the Provesta Corporation, another continuous yeast fermentation plant located in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Shortly after the acquisition the manufacturing of all Provesta products was consolidated within the Hutchinson facility.
In 1994 Burns Philp acquired Deutsche Hefewerke GmbH in Hamburg, Germany. The history of the plant goes back to 1836 when it was founded as ‘Heinrich Helbing Korn Distillery’ producing yeast and spirits for the local market. In the mid 1930’s Götz Ohly was the first to develop yeast extracts and he still lends his name to our company and our branded range of bakers yeast derived products. In 1961 the company is converted to Deutsche Hefewerke GmbH.
In 1994 a close collaboration between Provesta and Deutsche Hefewerke started and finally led to the consolidated Ohly business as we know today.
In 2004 ABF Ingredients acquired parts of the Burns Philp group including Provesta and Deutsche Hefewerke. A year later the Specialty Powders business unit of AC Humko (an ABF North Amerika company), located in Boyceville, Wisconsin, is combined with the Provesta Flavor Ingredients in order to further focus on specialty food ingredients. Provesta Flavor Ingredients and Deutsche Hefewerke together with Protient formed the protein division of ABF Ingredients.
In 2007 Provesta Flavor Ingredients and Deutsche Hefewerke merged and started to operate under the well-established brand Ohly to better correspond to market needs. Ohly is one of the world’s leading suppliers of yeast extracts, hydrolysates and specialty powders to food, biotechnology, nutraceutical and feed markets globally.
Autumn 2007 the construction of a new yeast extract plant in Acheng, Harbin, China was announced. Beside the construction work of the new yeast extract plant, in 2009 Ohly opened a new food application centre and sales office in Shanghai. In 2010 the company celebrated the Grand Opening of the new plant AB (Harbin) Food Ingredients Co., Ltd.
Spring 2011 Ohly acquired Bakon Yeast Inc. located in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, USA. Bakon Yeast Inc. established in 1933, is a manufacturer of yeast based savoury ingredients for the food industry and is best known for its naturally, Hickory smoked Torula Yeast product range.