Introduction to IMPORTERS SERVICE CORPORATION

We would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to IMPORTERS SERVICE CORPORATION and our line of premium hydrocolloids for the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and technical industries. For more than half a century , water soluble gums manufactured by ISC have been the standard for comparison in the industry.

INNOVATION - QUALITY ASSURANCE - RELIABLE SUPPLY

These are the hallmarks of today's world-class supplier. ISC pioneered the first commercially available spray dried Gum Arabic in the US in 1961. Since that time, we have produced over 100 million pounds for use in a wide variety of applications. Virtually every improvement in spray dried Gum Arabic processing has been developed and tested by our staff – INNOVATION! Our technical staff tests the gum at every critical step during processing to assure that our finished product is consistently the cleanest, clearest, lowest microbial count, and highest performing Gum Arabic and Gum Talha available from any source -- QUALITY ASSURANCE! ISC's spray drying operation, in our 70,000 square foot plant, is the largest facility in the world dedicated to manufacturing only spray dried Gum Arabic and Gum Talha. Our extensive inventory and total control over the manufacturing process allow us to ship any requirement from one drum or bag to a full truckload to meet your delivery schedule -- RELIABLE SUPPLY!

Founded more than 50 years ago, IMPORTERS SERVICE CORPORATION began as a service company to the water soluble gums distributors throughout the US. ISC custom ground a wide variety of gums such as Gum Arabic, Gum Tragacanth, Gum Karaya, Gum Ghatti and other products. Our company grew and prospered on our reputation for manufacturing the highest quality products available. In 1961, in response to our customers requirements for a premium quality Gum Arabic – a product with low microbial count, improved color, low sediment -- ISC commercialized the first Gum Arabic spray drying operation in the US. Today, our plant remains the largest facility, world-wide, dedicated to Gum Arabic spray drying.

Anticipating the negative aspects of the Gum Arabic shortage of the mid-80’s, ISC developed and produced spray dried Gum Talha (Acacia seyal) as a replacement for traditional Gum Arabic (Acacia senegal) in non-emulsion applications. Although a successful product, its sales growth was limited by its natural dark color. In the late 80’s ISC discovered the method of de-colorizing Gum Talha. For the first time, there was an effective alternative to Acacia senegal, opening the opportunity to use Gum Arabic (Talha) in many new applications, including flavor carriers and an economical source of soluble dietary fiber. In the early 90’s, the USP recognized the importance of Gum Talha and included it in the definition of "ACACIA". ISC was the largest manufacturer of this new product and supplied most of the water soluble gums distributors. Continual development of this product category has resulted in the introduction over the last year of Acacia H-380 – a product that is a virtual match for spray dried Acacia senegal in color and appearance.

The year 1988 marked a significant change in the sales and marketing effort of our company. The previous 40 years was a period of supplying Gum Arabic and other food and pharmaceutical polymers to distributors who, in turn, resold these products to you, the end user. That year, ISC became a direct seller to the food, pharmaceutical, and technical industries. ISC was no longer the contract manufacturer to companies such as Colony, Meer, Hi-Tek(Celanese), Rhone-Poulenc, Chart, TIC and others. We enlisted the aid of an independent manufacturers representative and in time became the largest domestic supplier of Gum Arabic.

In 1992, IMPORTERS SERVICE CORPORATION acquired the gum exudate (Arabic, Talha, Karaya, Trag, Ghatti) business from Rhone-Poulenc and Hi-Tek.

In 1996, ISC made a decision to develop even closer, more direct relationships with our diversified customers. In September, we added our direct sales force with more than 50 years of combined experience in the sales and marketing of natural gums.

Throughout our long history, ISC has continued to research how to add value to our products. From constant process development making us the low cost producer of Gum Arabic, to product development initiatives bringing new products and packaging to market, to an experienced sales and marketing force who understand and anticipate our customers’ needs, IMPORTERS SERVICE CORPORATION is the preferred choice for your global supply partner.

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Business Strategy

A review of ISC business strategy is a review of our mission statement.

IMPORTERS SERVICE CORPORATION is committed to an ongoing enhancement of the real and perceived value of our products and services. We will deliver the finest quality solutions to our customers’ needs at fair cost. We further recognize that as we work toward this evolving goal, we must also enhance our value to our shareholders. Low cost production and value pricing is the path to our success.

In Commodity product marketing, it is an axiom that, over the long term, the low cost producer has the highest rate of survival. Here at ISC, process development and product development are the cornerstones of our business.

Recognition of the fact that processing is our largest cost after raw materials, advances in process development are an ongoing activity. Whether it is proprietary methods of color improvement or significant investment in efficient use of energy or development of cost-effective packaging, control over the PROCESS is an ongoing management commitment.

Product development is the key to the future. Our development and commercialization of de-colorized Gum Talha opened up brand-new major markets for Gum Arabic in food, flavor, beverage, pharmaceutical , and industrial markets. Agglomerated spray dried Gum Arabic answers the need for many of our customers to supply a dust-free, readily dispersible form of our products. We continue to investigate how to improve the emulsion ability of Gum Arabic. ISC will always be a leader in development of test techniques to assure our customers of gum purity.

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Company Personnel

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Introduction to IMPORTERS SERVICE CORPORATION

We would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to IMPORTERS SERVICE CORPORATION and our line of premium hydrocolloids for the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and technical industries. For more than half a century , water soluble gums manufactured by ISC have been the standard for comparison in the industry.

INNOVATION - QUALITY ASSURANCE - RELIABLE SUPPLY

These are the hallmarks of today's world-class supplier. ISC pioneered the first commercially available spray dried Gum Arabic in the US in 1961. Since that time, we have produced over 100 million pounds for use in a wide variety of applications. Virtually every improvement in spray dried Gum Arabic processing has been developed and tested by our staff – INNOVATION! Our technical staff tests the gum at every critical step during processing to assure that our finished product is consistently the cleanest, clearest, lowest microbial count, and highest performing Gum Arabic and Gum Talha available from any source -- QUALITY ASSURANCE! ISC's spray drying operation, in our 70,000 square foot plant, is the largest facility in the world dedicated to manufacturing only spray dried Gum Arabic and Gum Talha. Our extensive inventory and total control over the manufacturing process allow us to ship any requirement from one drum or bag to a full truckload to meet your delivery schedule -- RELIABLE SUPPLY!

Founded more than 50 years ago, IMPORTERS SERVICE CORPORATION began as a service company to the water soluble gums distributors throughout the US. ISC custom ground a wide variety of gums such as Gum Arabic, Gum Tragacanth, Gum Karaya, Gum Ghatti and other products. Our company grew and prospered on our reputation for manufacturing the highest quality products available. In 1961, in response to our customers requirements for a premium quality Gum Arabic – a product with low microbial count, improved color, low sediment -- ISC commercialized the first Gum Arabic spray drying operation in the US. Today, our plant remains the largest facility, world-wide, dedicated to Gum Arabic spray drying.

Anticipating the negative aspects of the Gum Arabic shortage of the mid-80’s, ISC developed and produced spray dried Gum Talha (Acacia seyal) as a replacement for traditional Gum Arabic (Acacia senegal) in non-emulsion applications. Although a successful product, its sales growth was limited by its natural dark color. In the late 80’s ISC discovered the method of de-colorizing Gum Talha. For the first time, there was an effective alternative to Acacia senegal, opening the opportunity to use Gum Arabic (Talha) in many new applications, including flavor carriers and an economical source of soluble dietary fiber. In the early 90’s, the USP recognized the importance of Gum Talha and included it in the definition of "ACACIA". ISC was the largest manufacturer of this new product and supplied most of the water soluble gums distributors. Continual development of this product category has resulted in the introduction over the last year of Acacia H-380 – a product that is a virtual match for spray dried Acacia senegal in color and appearance.

The year 1988 marked a significant change in the sales and marketing effort of our company. The previous 40 years was a period of supplying Gum Arabic and other food and pharmaceutical polymers to distributors who, in turn, resold these products to you, the end user. That year, ISC became a direct seller to the food, pharmaceutical, and technical industries. ISC was no longer the contract manufacturer to companies such as Colony, Meer, Hi-Tek(Celanese), Rhone-Poulenc, Chart, TIC and others. We enlisted the aid of an independent manufacturers representative and in time became the largest domestic supplier of Gum Arabic.

In 1992, IMPORTERS SERVICE CORPORATION acquired the gum exudate (Arabic, Talha, Karaya, Trag, Ghatti) business from Rhone-Poulenc and Hi-Tek.

In 1996, ISC made a decision to develop even closer, more direct relationships with our diversified customers. In September, we added our direct sales force with more than 50 years of combined experience in the sales and marketing of natural gums.

Throughout our long history, ISC has continued to research how to add value to our products. From constant process development making us the low cost producer of Gum Arabic, to product development initiatives bringing new products and packaging to market, to an experienced sales and marketing force who understand and anticipate our customers’ needs, IMPORTERS SERVICE CORPORATION is the preferred choice for your global supply partner.

Back to Top

Business Strategy

A review of ISC business strategy is a review of our mission statement.

IMPORTERS SERVICE CORPORATION is committed to an ongoing enhancement of the real and perceived value of our products and services. We will deliver the finest quality solutions to our customers’ needs at fair cost. We further recognize that as we work toward this evolving goal, we must also enhance our value to our shareholders. Low cost production and value pricing is the path to our success.

In Commodity product marketing, it is an axiom that, over the long term, the low cost producer has the highest rate of survival. Here at ISC, process development and product development are the cornerstones of our business.

Recognition of the fact that processing is our largest cost after raw materials, advances in process development are an ongoing activity. Whether it is proprietary methods of color improvement or significant investment in efficient use of energy or development of cost-effective packaging, control over the PROCESS is an ongoing management commitment.

Product development is the key to the future. Our development and commercialization of de-colorized Gum Talha opened up brand-new major markets for Gum Arabic in food, flavor, beverage, pharmaceutical , and industrial markets. Agglomerated spray dried Gum Arabic answers the need for many of our customers to supply a dust-free, readily dispersible form of our products. We continue to investigate how to improve the emulsion ability of Gum Arabic. ISC will always be a leader in development of test techniques to assure our customers of gum purity.

Back to Top

Company Personnel

Back to Top