HONG KONG, CHINA--(Marketwired - Mar 1, 2017) - Today, Puratos opened the Puratos Asia Development Centre (ADC) in Hong Kong as a platform for innovation across the bakery, patisserie and chocolate sectors. The Hong Kong ADC will help Asian artisans, industrial food producers, retailers and food service companies analyse trends and create new products for the region's consumers.
According to Puratos research, Asian consumers are future-oriented and enjoy new products that use natural ingredients and deliver freshness, health and taste. The Hong Kong ADC will enable Puratos customers to respond to these changing needs and expectations with constant innovation. The ADC is staffed by an international team of technical experts and provides state-of-the-art facilities including a Sensory Analysis Lab, a Sensobox mobile sensorial lab, an Industrial Competence Centre and a long-term research laboratory. It also includes a Chocolate Café and Bakery Café to inspire customers with the latest tastes in bread, cake, chocolate and pastry.
Hong Kong investment supports Asian bakery sector
"The bakery business in Asia is benefitting from rising disposable income and changing lifestyle and consumption patterns. With our innovative ingredients, solutions and application expertise, Puratos wants to inspire our customers to innovate and differentiate to serve this growing market," said Peter Deriemaeker, Market Director Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa at Puratos. "Having invested around USD500,000 in putting together the ADC, we will continue to invest in R&D and infrastructure in Hong Kong to remain close to our customers in Asia."
In addition to its R&D function, the Hong Kong ADC will serve as Puratos' regional headquarters. The company is experiencing double-digit growth in Asia, where it expects to see ongoing and rapid development across all three of its business segments: bakery, patisserie and chocolate.
"Asia is a market of great potential for our industry and it is very important to Puratos. We selected Hong Kong as our regional base because this is an Asian business and innovation hub as well as a strategic market that leads bakery, patisserie and chocolate trends in the region," Mr. Deriemaeker continued.
Taste Tomorrow consumer survey
Puratos conducts regular research to drive industry innovation. Its recent Taste Tomorrow consumer survey interviewed close to 11,000 consumers in 25 countries about their choices, attitudes and perceptions related to the baked goods industry. Puratos analyses and shares this data to provide the baked goods industry with in-depth insights into global and local consumer behaviour and trends related to bakery, patisserie and chocolate.