Avatar grows with culture of quality, exceptional customer service

Consistent delivery of best-in-class products and exceptional customer service has been the cornerstone of Avatar Corporation's sustained growth and profitability in its more than 30 years of operation. The privately held corporation has established itself as a prominent supplier of raw materials and ingredients to the food, drug and personal care industries, where product quality is an absolute top priority.

"Our commitment to quality and service has not wavered," says Michael Shamie, president and CEO. "We've earned the enthusiasm and loyalty of our customers by providing solutions to difficult problems."

Embracing his entrepreneurial spirit and drawing on his chemistry background, Shamie founded Avatar in 1982 and has grown the company into a multimillion-dollar business with discerning industry majors such as L'Oreal, Pfizer and Nestle as clients. Strictly adhering to safety and quality control protocols, Avatar produces, refines and supplies a wide range of ingredients and processing aids, including antioxidants, food-grade lubricants, emulsifiers and naturally derived ingredients.

With the United States Food and Drug Administration's authorisation, Avatar produces actives, excipients, diluents and vehicles for use in ethical pharmaceuticals. To improve its value proposition, the company can contract manufacture products to exact customer specifications.

The company's nine-hectare manufacturing site in University Park, Illinois, operates in compliance with Current Good Manufacturing Practice and SQF Level 2 standards, as defined under the Global Food Safety Initiative. Avatar has kosher, halal, NSF and US Environment Protection Agency certifications. It is also certified Organic by the US Department of Agriculture.

As part of efforts to grow its international business, Avatar is looking to work with distributors and agents who have local expertise and networks to represent Avatar products in Asia-Pacific, Central America, South America and Europe. In parts of Asia, Avatar has engaged Shanghai TianLiao Trading as an authorised distributor of its food-grade products.