Croda China celebrate our centenary year

2025 is Croda’s centenary year, a milestone which provides an excellent opportunity to celebrate what we have achieved, the impact we have had, and reflect on the strong foundations it gives us for future success.

Our China teams celebrate our centenary year

In Chinese traditional culture, the Spring Festival, celebrated 29 January to 12 February, symbolises a fresh start and is filled with hope and vitality.

This year, it holds even greater significance for our teams in China as we mark Croda's Centenary, celebrating 100 years since our founding in 1925. On January 17th, colleagues from Croda China and Iberchem China gathered in Shanghai and Guangzhou to celebrate both of these events. Our people embraced the spirit of the festival by writing heartfelt messages and blessings for Croda's future. These messages reflected their deep connection with the company and their hopes for continued success in the next century.

Honouring dedication

At the heart of the celebration, we took time to honour our people, whose dedication has been exceptional in Croda’s journey. The Long Service Awards were presented to those who have shown exceptional commitment over the years, demonstrating their loyalty and contributions to our shared success.

Herbert Shen, Asia’s Life Sciences Finance Director and a 10-year Long Service Award recipient, reflected: “As the company celebrates its 100th anniversary, receiving the 10-year Long Service Award makes me feel that I have grown with the company and enhances my sense of belonging. I hope that both Croda and I will continue to thrive and achieve greater success in the future.”

Jose Balibrea, Vice President, Iberchem and Tony Xu, General Manager, Guangzhou, Iberchem, attended the celebration delivering New Year's speeches.

They recognised the hard work and outstanding achievements of our people and expressed high expectations for the development in the new year. Subsequently, our people from various departments presented wonderful cultural and artistic performances. We believe that with the joint efforts of all people, we will achieve great success in the new year!

Jose Balibrea tells us: “Not only are we celebrating 100 years of Croda, we are also celebrating our 40th anniversary at Iberchem China — four decades of innovation, growth, and success. It’s a milestone we should all be incredibly proud of. This shared legacy of growth and achievement is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we focus on what matters most, our customers. As we continue to grow and expand, let’s not forget the importance of keeping them at the center of everything we do. It’s their trust and collaboration that fuel our success, and we must always strive to exceed their expectations”

Celebrating one another

Adding to the festivities, several colleagues celebrated their birthdays in January, making the event even more special. Sharing their personal milestones alongside Croda’s Centenary created a unique and memorable celebration for everyone involved.

ZhongWen Ma, Graduate Trainee, China, shared their perspective: “As a Graduate Trainee, I am very proud and honoured to participate in the preparation and celebration of Croda’s Centenary. It is very special to celebrate this milestone today, as well as my own birthday. Looking forward to 2025, I hope to turn the past year’s achievements and good fortune into the motivation to continue moving forward and growing with Croda.”

Our commitment to excellence

As we reflected on Croda’s centenary, we also looked forward with excitement and determination. Sherman Chau, Vice President Life Sciences, Asia, captured the spirit of the event perfectly: “The Spring Festival is a time of renewal, and today we renew our commitment to excellence as we celebrate Croda’s Centenary. This celebration was not just about looking back at our achievements but also about looking forward to the future. In Croda Asia, we have seen remarkable growth and progress over the past decades. Our teams across the region have been instrumental in delivering solutions that meet the unique needs of our customers. We are excited to see what the next 100 years will bring and are confident that, with our collective efforts, Croda will continue to lead in innovation and achieve even greater success globally.”

Looking ahead

As the Spring Festival reminds us of renewal and growth, we embrace the opportunities ahead, whilst appreciating and celebrating the past 100 years of Croda and the work that has been conducted to make Croda the company it is today.

Innovation is at the heart of everything we do. Guided by our Purpose, we push the boundaries of what’s possible.

Our purpose is a call to action for everyone — our people, customers, and partners — to come together and create a brighter, more sustainable future. Whether through groundbreaking ingredients, sustainable practices, or community impact, we’re proud to make a meaningful difference every day. 

We hope everyone had a Happy Chinese New Year and we wish our people and customers a prosperous year ahead. Together, let’s continue building a remarkable future for Croda over the next 100 years!