SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
SEGMENT INFORMATION [Abstract]
Number of operating segments									3
Segment information [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 80,060	$ 75,116	$ 79,014	$ 76,203	$ 69,733	$ 74,439	$ 74,687	$ 73,008	$ 310,393	$ 291,867	$ 255,071
Earnings before income taxes	15,107	16,225	14,824	13,688	13,772	15,238	14,352	13,376	59,844	56,738	50,131
Interest and other income (expense)									67	513	361
Depreciation and amortization									9,641	9,291	8,559
Total assets	312,545				271,717				312,545	271,717	228,624
Capital expenditures									13,883	6,612	7,557
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales	80,060	75,116	79,014	76,203	69,733	74,439	74,687	73,008	310,393	291,867	255,071
Long-lived assets, excluding intangible assets [Abstract]
Long-lived assets, excluding intangible assets	52,725				44,282				52,725	44,282	43,388
United States [Member]
Segment information [Abstract]
Net sales									207,490	191,204	170,949
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales									207,490	191,204	170,949
Long-lived assets, excluding intangible assets [Abstract]
Long-lived assets, excluding intangible assets	41,183				33,511				41,183	33,511	32,754
Foreign Countries [Member]
Segment information [Abstract]
Net sales									102,903	100,663	84,122
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales									102,903	100,663	84,122
Italy [Member]
Long-lived assets, excluding intangible assets [Abstract]
Long-lived assets, excluding intangible assets	11,542				10,771				11,542	10,771	10,634
Specialty Products [Member]
Segment information [Abstract]
Net sales									49,990	47,851	42,239
Earnings before income taxes									20,332	18,636	15,944
Depreciation and amortization									1,369	1,291	1,071
Total assets	26,685				25,618				26,685	25,618	25,113
Capital expenditures									836	1,034	334
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales									49,990	47,851	42,239
Food, Pharma and Nutrition [Member]
Segment information [Abstract]
Net sales									44,070	42,525	41,994
Earnings before income taxes									11,335	11,113	9,748
Depreciation and amortization									1,444	1,486	1,551
Total assets	18,395				17,319				18,395	17,319	17,930
Capital expenditures									924	403	1,390
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales									44,070	42,525	41,994
Animal Nutrition and Health [Member]
Segment information [Abstract]
Net sales									216,333	201,491	170,838
Earnings before income taxes									28,110	26,476	24,078
Depreciation and amortization									6,828	6,514	5,937
Total assets	121,615				108,410				121,615	108,410	106,667
Capital expenditures									12,123	5,175	5,833
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales									216,333	201,491	170,838
Other Unallocated [Member]
Segment information [Abstract]
Total assets	$ 145,850				$ 120,370				$ 145,850	$ 120,370	$ 78,914