Distributor Barentz International has announced a joint venture with TasteStrik, a Dutch family business and developer, producer and supplier of flavourings and ingredients for the bakery, cereal, chocolate, confectionery, culinary, dairy and specialty foods industry.

The joint venture will, the company says, give Barentz a higher diversity of sources to deliver solutions for taste concepts, while offering TasteStrik the knowledge and expertise of Barentz’ global network.

According to Barentz, TasteStrik has a proven track record in developing, manufacturing and distributing high-quality flavourings and ingredients for the European Food market.

Robert Strik, managing director of TasteStrik, said: “This is a promising joint venture, wher both parties will immediately benefit from each other’s strengths. For TasteStrik, and for me personally, the customer-centred and entrepreneurial spirit of Barentz are of decisive importance. We are a family business with an extraordinary passion for taste. We see the same attitude at Barentz, along with the shared will to always strive for better solutions.”

Barentz CEO Hidde van der Wal said: “This is wher we bundle all expertise and skills we have throughout our organization to devise and implement innovative and suitable solutions. TasteStrik’s sophisticated application lab in Eemnes (the Netherlands) will be a valuable addition to our global network of 15 labs with 50 food engineers.’ Van der Wal expects rapid cooperation and results. ‘We do indeed share a similar corporate culture, and Robert Strik will continue to lead TasteStrik as its managing director, thus ensuring continuity.”