Firmenich has opened a new Culinary Discovery Center in Bangkok, Thailand, to serve as the company’s hub for Southeast Asia. The new facility provides a collaborative environment where Firmenich chefs, flavorists and food technologists can work together with customers to shape the future of food. Fully immersed in the region’s rich culinary heritage, this center will develop innovative culinary solutions cutting across Savory, Sweet Goods and Beverages for consumers in Southeast Asia and beyond.

“This investment reflects South East Asia’s importance to Firmenich as both a strategic growth region, as well as Savory hub for Firmenich,” says Chris Millington, President of Flavors, Firmenich. “Putting our innovation to work, our chefs are dedicated to creating authentic, great tasting, nutritious products from smart proteins all the way to sugar, salt and fat reduction, in close collaboration with our local and regional customers.”

“Sharing a great taste experience forms a bond between people, across cultures and languages, it gives us stories and moments of happiness with our family and friends,” says Ed Alejandrino, Vice President of Flavors, Southeast Asia. “We look forward to welcoming our customers to our Culinary Discovery Center, an inspiring space that will open their eyes, taste buds and mind to new possibilities,” he noted.

Firmenich has also just launched “Culinary Anthropology,” a new and proprietary design thinking approach to developing savory products with customers through creative ideation and rapid prototyping which will be employed at the Culinary Discovery Center and throughout Southeast Asia. During a Culinary Anthropology session, Firmenich takes customers through a series of exercises that are designed to stimulate creative thinking and generate innovative business ideas.