The move also serves other strategic aims for the firm, such as closer cooperation between divisions, environmental and sustainability principles, said a Symrise spokesman.
“We want to further increase our efforts in bringing the creative parts of the two divisions [fragrances and flavours] together,” he told FoodNavigator. The centre in Brazil would incorporate a host of personnel, including regulatory, new product development for sweet, savoury and beverage products, consumer insight and applications teams he said.
The facility consolidates research and development work that has previously been conducted in two separate locations and has been created to foster product development tailored to the Latin American market.
The launch of the Latin American Centre of Excellence, which is triple the size of a previous facility on the same site, follows Symrise’s investment in facilities in Dubai, Russia and China.
“This was one of our strategy goals: to strengthen our presence in emerging markets. This agenda is completed. There will be no further openings in new countries for the time being. We will have a focus on China, but not necessarily new sites. 47% of our business is now in emerging markets.”
The Sao Paulo centre is also strategically positioned, said Walter Ribeiro, regional president, flavour and nutrition at Symrise. “Our new site is located near our production site and our Global Citrus Centre in Sorocaba. This will allow us to make the most of synergies between development and production and sensibly cross link the activities of all locations.”
Dr Heinz-Jurgen Bertram, chief executive of Symrise, said: “The economies in Latin American countries are growing at a rapid pace. The standard of living is rising and with it the demand for luxury and consumer goods. In turn, we are also disproportionately growing in the region.
“Over the last few years we have experienced rapid marked growth and Latin America will remain one of our most important growth regions in the future. Our new location is our largest in Latin America and we have clearly located it at the centre of Brazil’s economy.”
The centre’s building complex covers an 8,000m2 area and it is built according to sustainability and environmentally friendly principles. They are fitted with water purification and energy saving systems and uses processes for structured waste and recycling management. About 120 staff work at the site from the Flavour & Nutrition and Scent & Care divisions.