German-based Symrise, a global manufacturer of flavourings, fragrances, cosmetic active ingredients, and raw materials has announced it will be opening a new laboratory in Lagos on 4th September, 2019 following a media tour of the facility.

The event will mark a new chapter in the company’s interaction with Nigeria, having maintained a sales presence in the country for more than 30 years.

The facility which was built between 2017 and 2018 will provide labs for beverage, sweet and culinary applications, as well as labs for fragrance and cosmetic ingredients applications. The launch represents a key part of the company’s EAME expansion strategy, which now has Africa front and center of its growth ambitions. Apart from being a statement of its commitment to long-term investment in Nigeria, the new facility will also provide the company with the capacity to satisfy local preferences and develop successful products.

The company noted that its new lab facility will focus on developing solutions using locally sourced materials. This will have a knock-on effect on Nigerian supply chains and will also result in more affordable consumer products.

“The new facility will allow for local development, by local application technologists, with local sourcing wherever possible. It also allows us to continuously build our knowledge around dynamic consumer preferences, so that Symrise is the preferred partner for holistic solutions that meet consumer expectations, within the ambit of the customer brief. The lab facilities will offer our customers the chance to tap into our technical expertise and facilities, as many customers in the region do not have their own labs,” said Rudy McLean Managing Director Symrise Nigeria Limited.

The facility will be staffed by the company’s current Nigeria team, as well as three new product application development technologists for the Food & Nutrition and Scent and Care labs. The team will work together on tasks including but not limited to developing new products and analyzing potential raw materials.

Symrise is a global supplier of fragrances, flavourings, cosmetic active ingredients, and raw materials as well as functional ingredients. Its clients include manufacturers of perfumes, cosmetics, food and beverages, the pharmaceutical industry and producers of nutritional supplements.