- Nactarome, a company specialized in the natural colors, extracts, flavors and ingredients sector, has opened its first regional base in Bangkok, Thailand, this month. The opening unveils the new European-based company presence in the Asia Pacific zone and allows local manufacturers’ to access their products.

“This is our first investment into the Asia Pacific and will be the first of a series of business growth strategies in the region,” says Geoff Allen, managing director of Nactarome for the Asia Pacific region.

The company has Bangkok as an initial base to prospectively keep expanding in the Asian market. A strategic decision made with the goal to gain a further share of the global ingredients marketplace, the company stresses.

“By having a team on the ground in Asia, we can overcome any cultural and time zone differences and continue to deliver authentic, sustainable food solutions globally,” notes Luigi del Monaco, Nactarome CEO.

Nactarome’s new lab in Bangkok, Thailand (Credits: Nactarome). Europe-Asia a flavorful two-way street
Nactarome’s new branch will affect Asian and European consumers as both markets increase and further their interconnections.

“Our close investment in developing taste solutions for the health and wellness sector has enabled us to help in Asia with various solutions. Nactarome’s consumer insight and local knowledge allow us to cater to companies serving local markets and those exporting back to Europe,” says Allen.

“We consist of a group of companies providing leading-edge clean-label and natural solutions (flavorings, colors and savory ingredients) to serve an international marketplace.” 

Nactarome’s new laboratories are “specifically designed to enable the creation of building block flavors from scratch, using Nactarome’s European raw materials.” 

“Top-note flavor modification will allow the developing of popular authentic flavor profiles, further enhancing Nactarome’s local response times,” says the company.

“By providing our customers with local knowledge of consumer and industry trends paired with international capabilities and technical excellence, we can ensure Nactarome keeps its competitive edge in the global marketplace,” adds Del Monaco.

Interest in Asia, an appealing market
During the COVID-19 pandemic storm, the Asia Pacific region has been an oasis for growing companies. Research from UK Food and Drink Federation highlights that Asia was one of the regions with the most “encouraging signs of recovery” together with Africa and South America, with British businesses seeing sales up 62% in those regions.

Notably, in Asia, the UK-China partnership is worth over £800 million (US$1053 million). With a boom that was, in part, brought by the UK-Japan bilateral deal that entered into effect in 2021. A showing of how promising the growth was in non-established markets.

MycoTechnology, another company that operates in the flavor modifier business, described Asia as an “ideal market” for the sector as brands offer enhanced nutrition and functionality without compromising on taste.

Charoen Pokphands Foods, a company specialized in cell-based meat, said it received “exceptional recognition from the market both in Thailand and the Asian market.”

With Asian consumers found to be open to meat alternatives.