HOLZMINDEN, GERMANY – Symrise AG opened its Center of Excellence near Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Aug. 2. The Holzminden-based company invested about €12 million in the center, which is about three times larger than the old facility. The new center will combine the research and development work, which previously was carried out at two locations.

About 120 staff members from both the Flavor & Nutrition and the Scent & Care divisions will work at the site in Granja Viana, Brazil. The center links R.&D. to market research, sales and marketing activities of both divisions. The buildings are fitted with water purification and energy savings systems. Processes for structured waste and recycling management have been implemented.

“Our new site is located near our production site and our global citrus center in Sorocaba,” said Walter Ribeiro, president of Flavor & Nutrition. “This will allow us to make the most of synergies between development and production and sensibly cross-link the activities of all locations.”

The Sao Paulo metropolitan region has a population of about 20 million.

“The economies in Latin American countries are growing at a rapid pace,” said Heinz-Jurgen Bertram, chief executive officer of Symrise AG. “The standard of living is rising and with it the demand for luxury and consumer goods. In turn, we are also disproportionally growing in the region. Over the last few years we have experienced rapid market growth, and Latin America will remain one of our most important growth regions in the future.”