Danisco consolidates its presence in Shanghai

This USD 5 million investment will employ around 100 employees in 5,600 square meters, and reflects the group’s intent to satisfy the needs of this fast-growing market for all of its businesses.

10/04/08 Today’s inauguration of Danisco Shanghai Center gives Danisco a strategic position in one of the world’s biggest centres of growth, Eastern China. The new centre will combine sales and application laboratories for the entire group as well as research facilities for its enzyme division Genencor. This USD 5 million investment will employ around 100 employees in 5,600 square meters, and reflects the group’s intent to satisfy the needs of this fast-growing market for all of its businesses.

’I’m extremely pleased that we have now consolidated Danisco’s expertise in Shanghai in one single spot. The centre will serve as an important springboard for our company’s growth in China and the nearby region,’ says Tom Knutzen, CEO of Danisco. Two key aspects of the new centre located in Hongqiao International Business Park is the opportunity to work directly with the customers in our application laboratories, and that Danisco consolidates its enzyme research activities in Asia through its enzyme division, Genencor.

As a world leader in enzymes markets for textiles, bioethanol, food, animal feed, and detergents, Genencor is already strongly represented in China through its renovated manufacturing and applications facilities in Wuxi, outside Shanghai. ’Our similar centres in Singapore and France are a great success of how we as a group can deliver dedicated and tailor-made solutions to our regional customers, while minimising costs. It therefore felt natural to follow up on our success by establishing a centre in booming Shanghai, where many of our customers are located,’ says Tom Knutzen.

The new Danisco Shanghai Center brings together:

•The innovation and application laboratories previously located in Kunshan, Jiangsu
Province
•The sales offices of Danisco, Danisco Animal Nutrition and Genencor in Shanghai
•A new Genencor R&D centre

The centre will be the only Danisco site in Shanghai. This one-city-one-site principle has been implemented successfully in Singapore and Paris, France. The consolidation of the three sales offices will create synergy, integrate administration and sales and marketing platforms, resulting in increased efficiency.

The food ingredients application laboratories in Danisco Shanghai Center cover dairy, cultures, ice cream, beverages, bakery, confectionery, jams, desserts, brewing, meat, food safety & protection, phage testing and sensory testing.

The Genencor division, to operate the R&D facilities on the fifth floor is the home of industrial enzymes capabilities within Danisco. Genencor is one of the largest developers and manufacturers of industrial enzymes. It delivers solutions for the agri-processing, cleaning and textiles, food and feed, consumer, and industrial markets. It also develops innovative advancements for the biofuels, biodefense, and biosafety industries.

Danisco Ingredients came to China in 1995. Currently Danisco has 1,224 employees in the
country and the following sites:
Factories:
• Kunshan (emulsifiers, functional systems)
• Wuxi (enzymes)
• Anyang (xylitol)
• Zhangjiagang (CMC)
Sales offices:
• Shanghai
• Beijing
• Guangzhou