Chemical and food ingredients distributor IMCD N.V. has expanded its technical capabilities with a new Food & Nutrition application laboratory in Hürth, Germany. With this latest facility, IMCDFood & Nutrition will seek to support customers’ technical needs, sharing detailed application knowledge of its comprehensive specialty ingredient portfolio from leading supplier partners, reports the company.

Speaking to FoodIngredientsFirst, Director Food & Nutrition, Marc van Gerwen, says: “With our new lab here in Hürth, we will be focusing on a range of applications crossing the major food segments of bakery, beverage, dairy, confectionery and savory.”

“Our expertise is responding to the drivers of the health trends,” he notes. “We have seen how millennial consumers do not eat in the same way as how consumers did before, so, for example, sugar and fat reduction are quite important for the German market, wher in other countries we also see added protein and fiber,” he adds.

The lab will host insight days and trend seminars, as well as providing bespoke customer project work. Collaborating closely with IMCD’s Food & Nutrition Centre of Excellence in Mechelen, Belgium, the new application lab will further enhance the value-added service currently provided to suppliers and customers, says IMCD.

“We are also aware of other factors influencing product development such as convenience and sustainability. Consumers want healthy, tasty products that are made with ingredients that are sourced responsibly. In this lab, we can work together with our customers and suppliers to address these trends and provide solutions for the challenges associated with product development,” van Gerwen says.

According to van Gerwen, this location in Germany was seleced to allow the sales and marketing teams to work closely with the technical teams and continue developing the right formulations with both customers and suppliers.

He also adds: “IMCD is committed to investing in technology that will enable our customers and suppliers to respond to the drivers and challenges they face. Germany is an important country for us, and one which we will continue to invest in.”

“Our local food technologists are now available to develop innovative application concepts and create healthy and delicious recipes that meet the latest consumer trends,” says Michel Faes, IMCD Global Technical Director.

“Examples range from producing fat and sodium-reduced and fiber-enriched clean label solutions for bakery and savory applications to sugar-reduced and high protein dairy products – all while maintaining the same premium and indulgent taste. The new lab will allow IMCD to share and discuss these opportunities with customers’ R&D teams, helping them to solve their consumer trend challenges,” he notes.