31/10/2019 – News / Food Processing / Flavours / Gulfood / Firmenich / Switzerland
Firmenich unveils exclusive regional flavour profiles at Gulfood Manufacturing 2019

Firmenich – the world’s largest privately-owned company in the flavour and fragrance business – today launched its Gulfood Flavor 2020, Mediterranean – a unique flavour designed to cater to the tastes of consumers in India, the Middle East and Africa (IMA) region at Gulfood Manufacturing 2019, which runs at Dubai World Trade Center until Thursday (31st Oct).
The special Mediterranean flavour profiles have been created by following in-depth research of consumers in the IMA region, with 67 per cent of respondents selecting the Mediterranean as their number one place to visit. The study also highlights Mediterranean cuisine as a favorite in the region, with French, Italian and Turkish the most preferred.
“Providing a one-of-a-kind taste experience and listening to consumers is in the Firmenich DNA,” remarked Thoger Larsen, Firmenich’s VP Flavor, India, Middle East and Africa. “What we see with our Gulfood Flavor 2020 is the value of focused research and the capabilities of those insights to support our regional customers co-identify future trends with us and create commercially viable products that are consistently consumer favourites.”
“It’s an honour to have this opportunity, our first participation at Gulfood Manufacturing, to showcase our proprietary flavour technologies and ingredients. Our stand is attracting a lot of attention, where we are offering a sensory experience like no other,” added Larsen.
Where challenges become innovation opportunities
Firmenich has developed exclusive flavour profiles into core products including: Mediterranean Dream Cookies, Mediterranean Sunrise Green Tea, and Mediterranean Coffee and Medley Coffee. Visitors to Firmenich Flavor Town at Gulfood Manufacturing will be treated to a Mediterranean Breeze Welcome Drink and Mediterranean Herbs and Tapenade Canapes to provide them with a taste of the new flavour.
“Our innovations on display at Firmenich Flavor Town are designed to fit unique needs of customers without being cost prohibitive, including full technical capabilities,” continued Larsen. “We have a focus on sugar and salt reduction, plant-based proteins and innovative flavour technologies that turn challenges into amazing innovation opportunities.
To provide some idea of the flavor and fragrance giant’s capabilities in this area, Firmenich generated annual revenues of 3.7 billion Swiss Francs (US$3.7 billion) up to June 2018, and the company invests an impressive 10 per cent of that turnover into its R&D activities
Addressing up-an-coming consumer needs
“There are so many new ways to address up-and-coming consumer needs,” he added. “We’re using spices to create complex flavour profiles in food that take the place of salt, floral and herbal botanicals to amplify flavour in beverages, and locally cultivated, simple, authentic ingredients to bring out the best in what we eat and drink – it’s a really exciting time in the flavour and ingredients industry.”
Take a dynamic journey to experience the versatility of unique flavours across applications to give you a taste of what is possible. The Firmenich Flavor Town is located at stand #S2-F32 in Sheikh Saeed Hall, Gulfood Manufacturing, which runs until 31st October (Thursday) at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
More information about Firmenich is available at: www.firmenich.com
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