SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
SEGMENT INFORMATION [Abstract]
Number of operating segments	3								3
Segment information [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 69,733	$ 74,439	$ 74,687	$ 73,008	$ 69,800	$ 63,910	$ 61,458	$ 59,903	$ 291,867	$ 255,071	$ 219,438
Earnings before income taxes	13,772	15,238	14,352	13,376	13,974	12,945	12,551	10,661	56,738	50,131	40,602
Interest and other income (expense)									513	361	(57)
Depreciation and amortization									9,291	8,559	8,130
Total assets	271,717				228,624				271,717	228,624	187,813
Capital expenditures									6,612	7,557	3,429
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales	69,733	74,439	74,687	73,008	69,800	63,910	61,458	59,903	291,867	255,071	219,438
Long-lived assets, excluding intangible assets [Abstract]
Long-lived assets, excluding intangible assets	44,282				43,388				44,282	43,388	41,579
United States [Member]
Segment information [Abstract]
Net sales									191,204	170,949	145,226
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales									191,204	170,949	145,226
Long-lived assets, excluding intangible assets [Abstract]
Long-lived assets, excluding intangible assets	33,511				32,754				33,511	32,754	31,233
Foreign Countries [Member]
Segment information [Abstract]
Net sales									100,663	84,122	74,212
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales									100,663	84,122	74,212
Italy [Member]
Long-lived assets, excluding intangible assets [Abstract]
Long-lived assets, excluding intangible assets	10,771				10,634				10,771	10,634	10,346
Specialty Products [Member]
Segment information [Abstract]
Net sales									47,851	42,239	36,368
Earnings before income taxes									18,636	15,944	14,250
Depreciation and amortization									1,291	1,071	826
Total assets	25,618				25,113				25,618	25,113	19,235
Capital expenditures									1,034	334	286
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales									47,851	42,239	36,368
Food, Pharma and Nutrition [Member]
Segment information [Abstract]
Net sales									42,525	41,994	35,407
Earnings before income taxes									11,113	9,748	5,029
Depreciation and amortization									1,486	1,551	1,489
Total assets	17,319				17,930				17,319	17,930	19,044
Capital expenditures									403	1,390	639
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales									42,525	41,994	35,407
Animal Nutrition and Health [Member]
Segment information [Abstract]
Net sales									201,491	170,838	147,663
Earnings before income taxes									26,476	24,078	21,380
Depreciation and amortization									6,514	5,937	5,815
Total assets	108,410				106,667				108,410	106,667	101,896
Capital expenditures									5,175	5,833	2,504
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales									201,491	170,838	147,663
Other Unallocated [Member]
Segment information [Abstract]
Total assets	$ 120,370				$ 78,914				$ 120,370	$ 78,914	$ 47,638