DSM expands in Asia

In a bid to improve customer services in the Japan and Korea, DSM
Food Specialities has expanded its activities in the two countries
with new offices for its Savoury Ingredients and Nutritional
Ingredients business units.

DSM Food Specialties announced this week that its Savoury Ingredients and Nutritional Ingredients business units have opened up a sales office in Seoul, Korea.

Launched on 1 July 2002, DSM claims that the move is a major step forward for a localised customer service in North East Asia. The Korean opening was combined with the launch of a new office for the Nutritional Ingredients Unit in Singapore for sales and service in the Asia Pacific region. The unit joins the Savoury Ingredients group that has had a sales office in Singapore for several years.

In a statement this week, DSM Food Specialities claims that the desire to expand activities in Korea and Singapore reflects the company's wish to further promote its customer-oriented approach in the Asia Pacific region. The company maintains that a closer liaison will ensure that new developments are better adapted to customer requirements across a wide range of applications. According to DSM, the market for savoury ingredients and nutritional ingredients is expanding rapidly in the Asia Pacific region and in the ASEAN countries, Korea and Japan in particular.

The Savoury Ingredients Unit markets a wide range of yeast extract and HVP-based flavour enhancers and processed flavours for savoury and culinary foods. The Nutritional Ingredients Unit markets a number of ingredients including arachidonic acid, natural beta-carotene and dietary enzymes.

In 2001 the DSM group had annual sales of close to €6 billion. The group employs about 20,000 people at more than 200 sites across the world.