From a basement flat in West London, the group listed SigmaRoc on Aim and developed it through a blend of organic growth and acquisitions, culminating in an audacious £800 million takeover of Irish group CRH's European limestone operations last year.
Founded just nine years ago, SigmaRoc has become one of the largest firms in its field, producing more than 20 million tons of limestone and lime per year.
Farmers feed limestone to chickens to help with egg-laying, lime is spread on fields to boost crop growth, construction firms need limestone as a basic building material.
Sceptics pointed to the scale of the transaction and the £875 million (£730 million) debt facility incurred, but a trading update last week suggested that Vermorken's plans are on track.
An enthusiast for all things lime and limestone, SigmaRoc chief executive Max Vermorken set up his business with four like-minded colleagues in 2016.
