DDW, The Color House (D.D. Williamson) was a global, privately held corporation providing caramel color, burnt sugar and natural colorings for the food and beverage industry, before being acquired in 2021 by Givaudan.[1] In 1865, Dutch immigrant Douw Ditmars Williamson founded D.D. Williamson in New York to manufacture burnt sugars for the brewing industry.[2] The caramel industry moved into coloring cola and many other foods following Prohibition and the Great Depression.[3]
Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, DDW had nine manufacturing sites for naturally derived coloring on five continents with customers in 100 countries.[4] DDW's first international manufacturing facility was founded in Little Island, Cork.[5]
In 2013, DD Williamson acquired Dupont's Danisco line of natural coloring in yellow, orange and brown hues.[6]
In April 2003, an explosion at the Louisville plant exploded killing one operator and releasing 26,000 pounds of aqua ammonia.[7] In November 2024, the Givaudan Sense Color (formerly D.D. Williamson) factory in Louisville exploded, killing two people.[8]
References
- Megan Jacobs. Acquisition Complete: DDW Joins Givaudan - Givaudan Sense Colour 8 December 2021, retrieved 12 November 2024^
- Bill Wolfe. Williamson shares recipe for success The Courier-Journal, Gannett, 3 April 2008^
- William Kamuf, Alexander Nixon, Owen Parker. Natural Food Colorants Marcel Dekker, Inc., 2000^
- Locations D.D. Williamson, retrieved 14 May 2012^
- Stephen Cadogan. D D Williamson serve up 25 years of ingredients Irish Examiner, 2003-11-27, retrieved 2020-12-13^
- DDW Acquires DUPONT™ DANISCO® Food Colorings DD Williamson, 17 December 2013, retrieved 26 December 2013^
- D.D. Williamson & Co. Catastrophic Vessel Failure www.csb.gov, retrieved 2024-11-12^
- 2 dead in plant explosion in Louisville's Clifton area that damaged homes, businesses WDRB, 2024-11-13, retrieved 2024-11-13^