For the first time in its corporate history, Symrise is setting up its own application labs in Nigeria. The global fragrance and flavoring manufacturer based in Germany will open the new facilities in Lagos, the largest city in the West African country, on September 4, 2019. “This will strengthen our presence and underpin our growth goals in the region,” says Rudy McLean, managing director at Symrise South Africa, building on the current sales office in Nigeria.

In the labs, local Symrise experts will work on flavors for various application areas, in particular for beverages, sweet applications and savory foods, as well as fragrances and cosmetic ingredients. The company wants to meet the preferences of regional customers as closely as possible with this local expansion. “With these application labs, we can create products in the market for the market,” says McLean. “We can deepen our understanding of the preferences and needs of local people and – where possible – use local raw materials.”

The history of Symrise is closely connected with Nigeria. With its Scent & Care and Flavor & Nutrition segments, the company has been active in the African country for more than 30 years. During this time, Symrise has worked intensively to familiarize itself with the local markets. Beyond this, the local team has built close and lasting relationships with customers. The goal of the new application labs is to incorporate customer preferences and market requirements in product development locally and with speed. To achieve this, Symrise will employ three new lab specialists in Nigeria.

With more than 190 million inhabitants, Nigeria is by far the most populous African nation and a key regional economy. “With this new investment, we are enhancing our local footprint and intensifying our long-term commitment to Nigeria and the region,” says McLean.