Two Swiss companies to open innovation centre in Singapore
Republic chosen because of its skilled workforce and advanced infrastructure
Source | www-businesstimes-com-sg.cdn.ampproject.org | NARENDRA AGGARWAL
SWITZERLAND’S leading global food technology provider, Bühler, and a world leader in flavours and fragrances, Givaudan are joining forces in a partnership to build a new innovation centre in Singapore, which will be dedicated to plant- based food with a focus on Asian markets. The new facility in Givaudan Woodlands is planned to open later this year.
The innovation centre will be jointly run by both companies, bringing together a pilot plant featuring a kitchen and flavour laboratory by Givaudan and Bühler’s extrusion and processing equipment. The upcoming facility will be supported by experts from both Swiss companies.
The setting up of the innovation centre is indeed timely as new consumer research has concluded that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a positive effect on the plant-based meat category for which the market is growing by over 10 per cent annually. The pandemic and the resulting negative association with animal-based food is projected to further boost the market in the next five to 10 years.
Monila Kothari, the Singapore based president of Givaudan’s Asia-Pacific flavours division, who helms the project, says: “We aim to welcome food processing companies, startups and university researchers looking to develop novel plant-based food products. Givaudan’s flavour, taste, ingredient, and product development expertise, combined with Bühler’s equipment and processing expertise, will create a unique offering and synergy that will be greatly advantageous to those developing new products, particularly when using wet or dry extrusion.”
