Purecircle crowned Aim Investors' International Company of the Year

Natural food ingredients specialist PureCircle Has been recognized to offer Aim investors the best exposure to a particular overseas market while imposing the best levels of UK corporate governance.

The Malaysian-based business raised $50m (£31m) when it floated in late 2007 and has since rapidly developed its supply chain and manufacturing capability, as well as promoting its high-intensity natural sweetener in international markets, where a series of regulatory approvals have led to a rapid growth in potential demand.

PureCircle specialises in a natural high-intensity sweetener known as Rebaudioside-A or Reb-A, which is derived from the Stevia Rebaudiana plant, known as ‘honey leaf’ in its native South America.

PureCircle has a majority stake in Chinese Stevia plantation business Ganzhou Julong, a stake which it increased following its fund-raising, and also owns a refinery in Malaysia where production capacity of Reb-A is being doubled to 2,000 tons a year.