INDIA – MANE, a major producer of flavors and fragrances, has officially opened its largest manufacturing plant in India, located at the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) site.

The new 20,500 square-meter facility is strategically located in one of India’s leading chemical manufacturing regions with easy connectivity to ports.

MANE said the new plant will play a key role in meeting the growing demands of flavor and fragrance markets in India and across the Asia-Pacific region.

Mane Group chairperson, Jean Mane said India, which accounts for nearly 8% of the group’s global revenues of Euro 1.5 billion (US$1.56bn), is key to the group’s future growth as it is also a major procurement center for spices which is why it has drawn up a US$45 million investment plan to expand capacities over the next three years.

The company has invested Euro 20 million (US$20.76m) in setting up the new plant, equipping it with advanced technologies and machinery, including an HVAC system with an EC fan, an energy valve, and a heat exchanger.

The plant aimed at expanding the French group’s footprint will also be run sustainably, with a 25% reduction in energy consumption.

The MANE Dahej plant’s annual production capacity is 2,000 tonnes of flavor products and 3,000 tonnes of fragrance products.

This increased capability will help the company produce high-quality liquid fragrances and flavors on a scale at par with other global MANE manufacturing plants, and that production can be increased in line with market growth.

“As a leading fragrance and flavors company in the world, we continuously look ahead to address the ever-growing demand for those innovations in the FMCG that have demonstrated product superiority,” added Mr. Mane.

“Mane will position itself as a critical player in enhancing the FMCG value chain in the region as we provide solutions to our customers through our collective, unique technical skills and mass-producing capabilities.”

At the same time, the French flavors and fragrances manufacturer also inaugurated its new US$3.11 million (approx 25 crores) flavor innovation center in Hyderabad.

The innovation center, which is spread over 13,900 sq ft in the Hitech City area, will focus on end-to-end flavor development to cater to the food & beverage market in India and other Asia Pacific markets, the company said.

The center houses a team of about 60 technical directors, creators, flavourists, application teams, and lab assistants. It will have two divisions — sweet and savory.

While the sweet division will cater to the bakery, dairy, confectionery, and beverages, the savory division will have three key segments: – snacks, culinary and frozen food.

The company has plans to expand its chili extraction capacities in Karnataka and Kerala and its specialty chemicals manufacturing facility in Athivaram in Andhra Pradesh.

The three years investment will also enable Le Bar-sur-Loup- based company to set up a greenfield facility in the vicinity of Medchalat for the 2000-2500 tpa seasonings facility sitting along the ORR.

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