USA — American food ingredients corporation International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) is planning a a new Nourish Innovation Lab at the company’s Union Beach, NJ, research and development center in an effort to bolster its customer support capabilities.
IFF said the new laboratory will integrate the company’s R&D projects with commercial applications desired by consumers, with a special focus on wellness, sustainability and advancing the circular economy.
“This new facility is a testament to how we pioneer innovation and drive speed to market and accessibility to our customers,” said Nicolas Mirzayantz, president of Nourish, IFF.
Flavorists and food designers located at the hub will co-innovate with customers throughout the entire process, allowing for increased customer feedback and faster commercialization, the company said.
“We will nurture an innovation project from concept to kitchen table, under one roof. Using our scientific knowhow, application excellence and full portfolio of ingredients, we’ll improve the taste and nutrition profiles of next-generation food and beverages,” Mirzayantz added.
“With our new culinary kitchen, we’re enabling technology focused on the consumer-eating experience, taking food development out of the traditional lab setting and into the kitchen.”
“We can’t wait to leverage these new opportunities to drive forward what’s next in food by combining science and creativity.”
Vice president of global innovation, creation and design, Nourish, IFF, Mauricio Poulsen revealed that the facility will service customers using the full portfolio of products from today’s IFF, which includes proteins, maskers, modulators, sweeteners, seasonings, functional ingredients, cultures and enzymes.
“The innovation lab will support both the creation and design needs of all key categories, including snacks, beverages, savory, sweet, dairy, pharma and oral care. The site is the global hub for enabling technologies including a full-scale sensory and consumer insights lab, as well as an analytical lab.”
In addition to the Nourish Innovation Lab the 160,000-square-foot facility includes a botanical garden, sensory science wing and pilot manufacturing site.
Its unveiling comes on the heels of a US$15.8 million investment in three IFF innovation centres in Latin America – located in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Bogota, Colombia and Santiago, Chile.
It also follows the openings of the IFF plant-protein focused Culinary Design Center in Brabrand, Denmark.
“We can’t wait to leverage these new opportunities to drive forward what’s next in food by combining science and creativity,” said Adam Janczuk, vice president of global research and development Nourish, IFF.
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