Symrise has inaugurated its Creative Center in Egypt on November 26, 2019. The subsidiary in the outskirts of Cairo comprises modern development and application laboratories for the categories Beverages, Confectionery, Dairy, Culinary and Snacks. Dirk Bennwitz, President Flavor EAME at Symrise, officially opened the new facilities. They meet the company’s global technology and development standards and are intended to strengthen the company’s reach in the AME region and its collaboration with strategic customers. Partners, customers and guests attended the ceremony.

Symrise has equipped its development and application laboratories with state-of-the-art technology. Within the Creative Center, employees will develop customized product solutions and applications and adapt existing products for the market. Compared to its facilities so far, the new creative center offers a number of advantages. Modern consumer and market analysis and quality assurance procedures guarantee authentic and relevant products for customers and consumers in the region.

“By investing in the new Creative Center, our strong team of food technologists and flavorists can make a significant contribution to the growth in the region in the future,” says Dirk Bennwitz, President Flavor EAME at Symrise. “We are convinced of the strategy, because our location in Cairo offers us proximity to customers and markets in Africa and the Middle East. In the future, we will be able to better serve demand in the region and optimally align our business with our customers, thus contributing to the company’s growth.”

Customers benefit from tailor-made developments

In the future, the Symrise team will have access to all the technologies and innovations available in the Group in the Creative Center. This will make it easier to meet customer demand. In addition, customers benefit from knowledge of the region and the increased use of local raw materials. This helps to meet the diverse wishes of consumers. Another advantage is that Symrise can work with its customers in a time- and cost-efficient manner.

“We use a wide range of manufacturing technologies in Egypt to supply all of Africa and the Middle East,” says Ibrahim Wagdy, responsible Managing Director of Symrise in Egypt. “We are now expanding these capacities with our modernized site thereby increasing the attractiveness for our customers in the region.“

Egypt is an important location for Symrise. On the one hand, because the country’s location in the AME region makes it easy to exchange information with customers from Africa and the Middle East. On the other hand, the industrial and agricultural infrastructure provides valuable advantages for the production and development of flavors for the local market.

Celebrating 30 years of growth in Turkey, Firmenich is proud to announce its new and expanded facility in Istanbul, strategically located to serve the dynamic Turkish market, as well as Europe and the Middle-East. With state-of-the-art laboratories for enhanced creativity and fast speed-to-market, this facility is designed according to the WELL Building Standard™, the global benchmark for employee wellbeing in the workplace.

“Following three decades of solid growth in Turkey, this strategic investment reinforces Firmenich’s commitment to this dynamic market,” said Gilbert Ghostine, CEO, Firmenich. “With this new creative center in Istanbul, we are set up to deliver winning scent and taste innovation to our customers with greater speed-to-market.”

“Today’s opening is in line with our ambitious growth plans in Turkey and beyond”, said Dilek Arvas, Director & General Manager, Firmenich Turkey. “With our people at the heart of everything we do, we designed this new facility with our colleagues’ wellbeing top of mind, to offer an optimal working and creative environment where everyone can thrive.”

Building on its unique legacy of responsible business, Firmenich operates an inclusive capitalism business model based on delivering positive value for all its stakeholders, including people, planet and society. Putting people first, Firmenich is one of only seven companies worldwide, and the first ever in Turkey, to be globally certified as a gender equal employer by EDGE, the gold standard for workplace equality.

Another key pillar of its inclusive capitalism business model is the Group’s commitment to preserving the planet, by leading the most traceable, ethical and sustainable value chain for its natural ingredients. For instance in Turkey, Firmenich works hand-in-hand with producers in the Isparta region, in mid-Anatolia, to harvest Turkish Roses, known for their beauty and delicacy, in the most sustainable way possible.

When it comes to society, as leaders in the Science of Taste, Firmenich plays a key role in addressing today’s malnutrition crisis, by making healthier food and drink options taste delicious for all. For example, its latest technology TastePRINT™ can reduce up to 100% of added sugar naturally without compromising on taste. Last year alone it removed 150 metric tons of sugar from products that people love, removing 600 billion calories from their diets.