This new facility will form part of the overall Asia Pacific Innovation Center based in Singapore that Roquette says has already developed a strong expertise in research & development and in pharma CTS. It is also said to further intensify Roquette’s technical capabilities in Asia, which currently rely on CTS Centers in Shanghai (China), Mumbai (India), Tokyo (Japan) and Singapore.

This move will also allow the company to further develop strategic partnerships with customers, universities and research institutions in the region, and will also help in tailoring solutions to the distinct preferences, health requirements and cultural needs of Asian consumers. Roquette will thus actively contribute to the expansion of its knowledge base and will speed up the development of its innovations.

The Food CTS Center’s customer base will consist of multinational companies, regional players and local start-ups. It will bring together technology and expertise to develop solutions with a unique sensory experience in baking, dairy, confectionary, savoury and specialized nutrition market segments. The CTS Center will have a broad range of capabilities including formulation, texture improvement, new application development and understanding of the features of ingredients in finished products. The company aims to staff this new centre with five scientists by the end of 2019 and to be a true partner for its customers in innovation, novel food technologies, formulation and application, providing also training to support application development.

The burgeoning middle class throughout Asia and their distinct tastes and requirements are said to underpin Roquette’s strategy to continue expanding its presence in the region. At the same time, increasing health consciousness and consumer concerns over sustainability across the region have created an increasing demand for Roquette’s plant-based products, such as new sources of protein. According to Mintel (2017 Food and Drink Trends report), vegetarian claims increased by 140% for food and drink launches in Southeast Asia between 2012 and 2016.

Rod Quin, Vice-President of the Roquette Food Global Business Unit said: “The opening of this new Food CTS Center in Singapore is a proof-point of our resolve to better serve our customers. This region is a major focus area for us and this new centre will help

us extend our activities into key markets in the region by bringing us closer to our customers. Roquette is strongly positioned to meet specific Asian consumer needs in Food, Nutrition and Health markets as dietary habits and lifestyles continue to evolve.”