The company says that it has opted to close its current site, located in Southport, England, to a hi-tech multi million kroner investment in Braband, Denmark, home of a number of the supplier's existing development operations. The site’s work will also be supplemented through a new lab designated to brewing innovation in Shanghai as well.
A spokesperson for the group told BeverageDaily.com that Danisco hoped to reduce job losses to just two positions as part of the changeover, which it claims will combine the company’s technical support, application and research activities on one site.
Innovation aims
In terms of the likely developments to take place at the Danish site, the spokesperson said that areas for innovation could relate to the foam and taste of beer to looking at clarity, oxidation and alternative brewing materials in the product.
In making the decision, which will result in the closure of the Stockport site, Danisco claims that its operations in producing enzymes for use in liquids can be better served through consolidating its operations at Braband.
“In the case of brewery and beverage enzymes, Danisco can make use of the knowledge at the biggest innovation facility in the entire company,” claimed the spokesperson. “This knowledge will benefit the customer as several aspects of product development can be addressed at once.”
While not singling out specific targets for future product innovation, Danisco claimed that a swift changeover of its operations to the new Braband site, expected to become operational in May, would not impact supply of enzymes to consumers.
The company claims that the move will result in the group being able to tackle product challenges relating to specific global tastes with the creation of a fully equipped brewing lab in Shanghai as well.