Firmenich, the world’s largest privately-owned company in the flavour and fragrance business, launched its Gulfood Flavor 2020, Mediterranean, designed to cater to the tastes of consumers in India, the Middle East and Africa region at Gulfood Manufacturing 2019, which takes place at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
The special Mediterranean flavour profiles have been created by following in-depth research of consumers in the IMA region, with 67% of respondents selecting the Mediterranean as their number one place to visit. The study also highlights Mediterranean cuisine is a favourite in the region, with French, Italian and Turkish being the most preferred.
“Providing a one-of-a-kind taste experience and listening to consumers is in the Firmenich DNA. What we see with our Gulfood Flavor 2020 is the value of focused research and the capabilities of those insights to support our regional customers co-identify future trends with us and create commercially viable products that are consistently consumer favourites,” says Thoger Larsen, Firmenich VP Flavor, India, Middle East and Africa.
“It’s an honour to have this opportunity, our first participation at Gulfood Manufacturing, to showcase our proprietary flavour technologies and ingredients. Our stand has attracted a lot of attention, where we’re we were offering a sensory experience like no other,” adds Larsen.
Firmenich has developed exclusive flavour profiles into core products including Mediterranean Dream Cookies, Mediterranean Sunrise Green Tea and Mediterranean Coffee & Medley Coffee. Visitors to Firmenich Flavor Town at Gulfood Manufacturing were treated to a Mediterranean Breeze welcome drink and Mediterranean herbs and tapenade canapés to get a taste of the new flavour.
“Our innovations on display at Firmenich Flavor Town were designed to fit unique needs of customers without being cost prohibitive, including full technical capabilities. We have a focus on sugar and salt reduction, plant-based proteins and innovative flavour technologies that turn challenges into amazing innovation opportunities.”
“There are so many new ways to address up and coming consumer needs,” says Larsen. “We’re using spices to create complex flavour profiles in food that take the place of salt, floral and herbal botanicals to amplify flavour in beverages, and locally cultivated, simple, authentic ingredients to bring out the best in what we eat and drink – it’s a really exciting time in the flavour and ingredients industry.”
