1971

Szilasmenti Cooperative takes over the national network of essential oil distilleries from KHV. This consists of 9 production sites around the country and a growing area of approximately 2,000 ha. Major crops: lavender, peppermint and dill. The collection of oils produced, and blending is done at the largest distillery at the headquarters in Kerepes.

1980

Dr. Svab and her co-workers start the selection work on Matricaria chamomilla. During the following decades Hungarian Blue Chamomile Oil receives international recognition due to its high chamazulene and bisabolol content. The major buyer of the oil is Germany, so this oil is also known as German Chamomile Oil.

1991

Csaba Fodor, a chemical engineer (majored in distillation technologies) establishes Silvestris Ltd in Pécs, South Hungary. The company specialises in rectification of essential oils produced at the Szilasmenti factory.

1993

Szilasmenti Cooperative is privatised under the national reprivatisation programme. Silvestris acquires the essential oil producing factories. Name changes to Silvestris & Szilas Ltd.

1995

Distillery in Kerepes fully modernised, changing all equipment to stainless steel.

2002

Angelica Farm Ltd is established to secure the safe raw material supply for the key essential oils. Partial owner and MD of the company is Robert Nagy, cousin of Csaba Fodor.

2013

Extracted herbs and spices are pelletised and dried on site. As one step of a green programme, pellet stoves replace the gas furnaces, which provided heating previously to the buildings.

2015

A new biomass boiler was put into production to reduce the energy cost and CO₂ emissions.

A rainwater collection system was built to minimalize the usage of drinking water.

2016

Ottó Kovács (Mayor of Szarvasgede), Annamária Bartók (MD) and Csaba Fodor (owner & CEO), set the foundation stone for the new Silvestris extraction facility at Szarvasgede, Hungary, launching the second production site.

2017

The new investment was completed, resulting in a 5 times capacity increase and becomes the largest European distillery.

2018

New extraction and purification plant completed.

Silvestris became the only company with REACH registration of European Blue Chamomile Essential Oil.

2019

FDA audit undertaken successfully.

Supercritical CO2 extraction unit put into operation.

2020

Silvestris opens indoor farm R&D and Innovation Center dedicated to chemical free agriculture.

Acquisition of 100% shares of Angelika Farm Ltd. in order to secure strategic agricultural raw material supply.

2021 50th anniversary!

Full vertical integration completed:

• Own farm to secure strategic raw materials
• Research & Development Center
• Innovative botanical processing and purification lines

2023

Acquisition of Kovacs Biofarm

• 30 year „organic” spice production history
• secure „organic” raw material base from our own lands