A KENT company which employs about 500 people is being bought by the giant Swiss-based Givaudan fragrance and flavour empire.

Quest International, based at Kennington Road, Willesborough, Ashford, is set to change hands as part of a multi-million-pound deal.

The Ashford plant is part of Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI)’s fragrance and flavour business, which is being sold to Givaudan for £1.2 billion.

It is one of the five major suppliers of fragrances in the world and the only one based in the UK.

This year the Ashford base, which is home to a team of perfumers and a centre for research into smell, began blending big-name fragrances such as Dior and Jean Paul Gaultier.

Ashford is the head office of Quest’s fragrance business and its largest fragrance manufacturing, research and development centre.

The deal is due to be completed early next year, subject to approval by ICI shareholders, regulators and employee consultation.

Linda Harman, Quest Fragrance’s PR manager, said: “This is very positive news for us and Ashford.”

Chief executive Charles Knott added: “This is an outstanding opportunity for Quest. We will be joining the most respected and profitable business in our industry and the clear market leader.”

Givaudan has a workforce of almost 6,000 people in more than 100 countries.