The facility has been in operations since 2014. With the recent accreditation, the company’s position as a key player in the region is said to have been reinforced, encouraging it to pursue further research and innovation endeavours.

Currently, the centre serves markets in the Middle East and Africa.

According to the firm, Turkey’s food and beverage industry accounts for almost 20% of its GDP. As such, its “large and sophisticated” food and beverage manufacturing sector plays a crucial role in the country’s economy and is set for stronger growth.

“Consumers’ taste profiles, needs, and wants are constantly evolving based on trends. IFF provides end-to-end support for our customers to innovate products through the creation of new taste profiles and product concepts, and conducting sensory analysis and analytic work. ​

“We will be focusing on market-relevant innovations using our differentiated tools and technologies to facilitate full product design. The aim is to improve existing offerings and develop new products to adapt to changing consumer needs and regulatory requirements,” ​Aynur Çelik, Creation & Design Director, Turkey at IFF, told FoodNavigator-Asia​.

Located in Gebze, the Creation and Design Center is said to “significantly streamline” the ingredient application process, which means quicker access to innovative solutions and the ability to bring new products to market swiftly.

“Being recognised by the Turkish authority is a seal of trust that inspires us to raise the bar even higher in quality and service.”​

Multi-faceted facility​

The innovation centre is backed by 29 application scientists, and home to a variety of features to support product development from conceptualisation to commercialisation.

These features include dedicated labs for beverages, bakery, confectionery, meat and snacks, analytical labs and pilot plants, and a culinary kitchen that emulates professional settings for hot food preparation.

In addition, the facility provides services such as product design for all key applications, creation of savoury seasonings for cooked foods and snacks, development of ingredients for sweet treats, and a trained panel to perform sensory evaluation.

After receiving the certification from MoIT, it is partnering several universities and research organisations, as well as customers worldwide, to work on projects spanning bakery and beverage categories, alongside efforts in the realm of upcycling.