Synergy Flavours’ Thai division has completed the expansion of a new high-care blending facility, which has been added to its existing production site in Samut Prakarn, Thailand. The new high-care blending facility of Synergy Flavours UK’s wholly owned subsidiary adds 2,500 m² (26,909 ft²) of additional space to the Thailand plant. Moreover, it expands capacity allowing the company to produce powder blended flavors and mixes to address the growing demand in Asia for sports nutrition beverages, infant formula and sweet flavored functional mixed drinks.

“This is the latest in a series of investments in Asia as we continue to add capacity and expertise to our strategically important site near Bangkok. With the new high-care blending facility, we are perfectly placed to help our customers in the region to cater to emerging consumer trends, such as the interest in ambient or warm sports nutrition beverages and ‘growing up milk’ – for infants of one to four years old. Our global presence and combined technical and marketing expertise means we can help customers be quick to market with innovative and delicious products that consumers will love,” explains Geoff Allen, Managing Director SE Asia, Synergy Flavours, Thailand.

“Asia is a growing continent, and there is a growing middle-class consumer base who are adventurous and want to try new flavors in a variety of F&B. This is being driven by consumers traveling more and demanding a greater variety of flavor profiles,” Allen tells FoodIngredientsFirst. 

“The new facility will give us access to new types of blended flavors across multiple categories across Asia and target a whole new potential customer base,” he notes. “Categories that we expect to see benefit from the new facility include sports nutrition, high care follow on infant milk flavors, sweet bakery flavors and functional beverage flavors.”

Equipped with a ribbon blender and an air shower, the clean and low contamination environment is suitable for low microbial level products and sweet powder blended products. The facility will produce high quality flavors for sports nutrition beverages, sweet powders blended for beverage,bakery and dairy flavors, such as milk, cream, cheese, butter mouthfeel booster/replacer, instant beverage mixes and infant follow-on formula.

Furthermore, Synergy will use the new blending facility to manufacture its Dairy by Nature range of flavors for the bakery, beverages and cheese market segments. This new range combines the company’s all-natural flavor creation expertise with the proprietary dairy technology of its parent company, Carbery, which has more than 50 years of Irish dairy heritage. 

The result is a range of authentic dairy- and dairy-free flavors designed to enhance dairy indulgence and build back taste. Dairy by Nature optimizes flavor in a variety of products and can be used as primary ingredients to replac or mimic dairy, or to enhance the flavor of existing dairy ingredients.  

“We have a five-year growth strategy supported by Carbery. The plan is to be ambitious in the Asia market, wher we see opportunity and value. We see Asia as one of the essential growth continents globally due to the expansion of the flavor market across several countries. We will look to expand our network and capability to service markets quicker with a series of investments,” Allen continues.

Expansion moves
Last year, Synergy doubled the size of its Thai operation to meet growing demand for its innovative flavor solutions in Asia-Pacific. The expansion at the site in Samutprakarn, included an additional 2,500 m² of space, including 1,500 m² dedicated to manufacturing, plus the creation of five new sensory labs. The additional space will accommodate more than double the workforce, with investment in human resources across all departments being made over the coming months and years. 

In June, Synergy Flavours launched a range of coffee flavors in Asia in response to the growing demand for authentic coffee-flavored products. According to Pier Yuan, Senior Flavor Creation Team Manager at Synergy Flavours Thailand, the rapid expansion of coffee shops in Asia has had a positive knock-on effect in the retail sector. 

“Ready-to-drink coffee and instant coffee manufacturers are consistently developing and innovating new coffee products to meet the growing demand in Asia,” Yuan told FoodIngredientsFirst, at the time. “As coffee shop numbers in this region continue to grow, consumers are exposed to a far greater range of coffee flavors and become accustomed to more sophisticated flavors.”

Moreover, in a FoodIngredientsFirst key interview, Chris Whiting, Category Manager at Synergy Flavours explained that as plant-based product launches continue to diversify, there is a rising expectation from consumers that yogurt and dessert alternatives should taste as good as dairy. With dairy flavors at the heart of Synergy Flavours business, the company is using its knowledge of complex taste profiles to create a range of tailored solutions that build indulgence and richness across a range of non-dairy bases.