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.

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.

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.

1985

Citromax Essencias Ltda. is established in Brazil as a savory flavor company.

1993

Citromax S.A.C.I. purchases El Solco, doubling its land holdings and lemons for processing.

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.

1999

Citromax S.A.C.I. expands its presence in Tucuman with construction of its own packing house for fresh fruit.

2003

Citroil Enterprises builds a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Carlstadt, New Jersey.

2004

Organic certification of orchards, juice and oil production is granted to Citromax S.A.C.I.

2005

Citromax launches its new flavor division, hiring Elaine Kellman-Grosinger as its Chief Flavor Chemist and Director of Research & Development.

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.

2007

Citromax S.A.C.I. begins growing and producing premium highbush blueberries in Tucuman.

2008

Berrymax builds its own state-of-the-art packaging facility

2009

Blueberry production increases from 50,000 kilograms in 2007 to 700,000 kilograms.

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).

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.

2012

Citromax S.A.C.I.’s Tucuman facility moves to Monteros in order to build a new expanded site.

2014

Citromax celebrates 50 years of successfully supplying the highest quality citrus oils, juices and by-products since 1964

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.