National Starch and Chemical industrial starches

National Starch and Chemical was a prominent American manufacturer of specialty starches and chemical products used in everything from food production to papermaking and construction. Founded in the United States in the late 19th century, the company gained a global reputation for innovation in adhesive and ingredient technologies.

The trajectory of the company changed significantly in the late 20th century. National Starch was acquired by Unilever in 1978 and later sold to Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) in 1997. Following ICI's acquisition by AkzoNobel, the specialty starch business was eventually sold to Corn Products International in 2010. This merger resulted in the rebranding of the combined entity as Ingredion in 2012.

Today, the legacy of National Starch continues under the Ingredion name, which operates a vast network of manufacturing plants across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. The products are essential components in the global food supply chain, providing texture and stabilization to various processed goods.