Our History


1960s
Jacob Glueck assumes management of U.S. flavor house Citroil Enterprises and Fritzsche SAICA, an Argentine company devoted to the creation and industrialization of flavors and fragrances for industrial application.
1960
1964
Citromax S.A.C.I. is founded and emerges as a highly specialized agro-industrial complex, producing lemons in the province of Tucuman, in Northwestern Argentina. Operations begin at the Citromax S.A.C.I. facility for the processing of lemons to create essential lemon oils, concentrated lemon juice, and dehydrated lemon peel – thus fully incorporating each integral stage in the processing of lemons.
1964
1981
Citromax S.A.C.I. builds its new industrial factory in Tafi Viejo, a suburb of Tucuman, and continues to expand, planting multiple orchards from its own nurseries, building a state-of-the-art facility and increasing its production to a dominant position in the worldwide market.
1981
1985
Citromax Essencias Ltda. is established in Brazil as a savory flavor company.
1985
1993
Citromax S.A.C.I. purchases El Solco, doubling its land holdings and lemons for processing.
1993
1997
Vivian Glueck takes over management from her father, Jacob Glueck, of four interrelated sister companies: Citroil Enterprises, Citromax S.A.C.I., Fritzsche SAICA, Citromax Essencias Ltda.
1997
1999
Citromax S.A.C.I. expands its presence in Tucuman with construction of its own packing house for fresh fruit.
1999
2003
Citroil Enterprises builds a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Carlstadt, New Jersey.
2003
2004
Organic certification of orchards, juice and oil production is granted to Citromax S.A.C.I.
2004
2005
Citromax launches its new flavor division, hiring Elaine Kellman-Grosinger as its Chief Flavor Chemist and Director of Research & Development.
2005
2006
Citromax receives organic certification and further expands its new facility with the construction of state-of-the-art, fully equipped, flavor laboratories including the latest generation gas chromatographs and mass spectrometers.
2006
2007
Citromax S.A.C.I. begins growing and producing premium highbush blueberries in Tucuman.
2007
2008
Berrymax builds its own state-of-the-art packaging facility
2008
2009
Blueberry production increases from 50,000 kilograms in 2007 to 700,000 kilograms.
2009
2010
Berrymax acquires Las Lauzas, the largest organic blueberry orchard in Argentina. It spans about 57-hectares/140-acres, and is certified 100% organic, NOP compliant, IFOAM and JAS by Organizacion Internacional Agropecuaria SA (OIA).
2010
2011
Following our green efforts in organic production, state-of-the-art solar panels are installed on the roof of our NJ production facility, drastically reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and reducing our carbon footprint.
2011
2012
Citromax S.A.C.I.’s Tucuman facility moves to Monteros in order to build a new expanded site.
2012
2014
Citromax celebrates 50 years of successfully supplying the highest quality citrus oils, juices and by-products since 1964
2014
In 2014, Citromax installed advanced JBT equipment that collects high quality, large Lemon Pulp Cells. This state-of-the-art equipment collects a very high quality product, with very low seed and peel content, and a size of > 70% on 20 Mesh

The success that has been attributed to the Citromax family of companies is no doubt a product of the hands-on family management that the company has sustained since the mid-1960s. Beginning with Jacob Glueck and continuing with his daughter, Vivian, who took over the reigns of day-to-day management in 1997, Citromax’s sterling reputation in the food and flavor industry is undoubtedly attributable to the Glueck’s commitment to growth, innovation and excellence.

A quick glance at our timeline highlights the impressive rise that Citromax has had over the years and offers a window into what is sure to be a flavorful future.