Firmenich Flavors Revamps Innovation

PLAINSBORO, N.J.Firmenich Flavors is aligning resources to better meet anticipated needs of consumers through its new i⁵ innovation group, representing 5 idealsideate, invent, invest, inspire, ignite.

The group will approach innovation via three platformsHealth and Nutrition; Natural and Sustainable; and Breakthrough Cost Innovation. These platforms will capitalize on the continued consumer demand for healthier and more nutritious food and beverages, the growing public interest and awareness in the sustainability of natural products, and on the increasing and significant emphasis food and beverage manufacturers will place on cost efficiency.

The Health and Nutrition platform will focus on meeting the current push for calorie-, sugar- and salt-reduction as well as emerging challenges, such as protein availability and other nutritional shortages. In order to maintain objectivity, the company is assembling an external panel of nutrition specialists to advise on innovations in this area.

Natural and Sustainable will focus on the company's natural raw material supply, ensuring core natural materials, including citrus, vanilla, mint and cocoa, are sourced sustainably and effectively. This platform will also address the growing consumer demand for clean labels.

Breakthrough Cost Innovation will focus on new technologies, processes and approaches to offer more efficient value across the company's entire flavor portfolio. Firmenich will seek to deliver more value through a more sustainable supply chain with less waste, higher efficiency and improved performance.

To lead i⁵, Firmenich has appointed Gary Smith, a senior executive with 25 years of flavors experience with Firmenich.

Earlier this year, Firmenich expanded flavor operations with the addition of a state-of-the-art flavor encapsulation facility at Karawang International Industrial City, near Jakarta, Indonesia. The new $30-million facility is dedicated to the production of the company's proprietary flavor encapsulation technology, Durarome®.