Döhler Acquires the Polish Aromes Group, Launches Innovation Platform

17 Sep 2013 --- As a global manufacturer and marketer of ingredients and ingredient systems, Döhler has secured its leading position in flavours for beverages and food through the 100% takeover of the Polish Aromes Group. Alongside its core competence in the field of flavours, Aromes also provides its customers with beverage bases, emulsions, colours and compounds.

In addition to Aromes's production site, which is located near Warsaw (Grodzisk Mazowiecki), the company also has two sales locations in Ukraine and the Baltics. As a renowned partner for the food and beverage industry, Aromes has many years of experience in the production of premium flavours and extracts and in the application of baked goods, confectionery and beverages, as well as detailed knowledge of the Eastern European market and its consumers. This has allowed Aromes to develop a product portfolio that is tailored especially to local taste preferences. In addition to premium extracts and flavours for beverages, including many flavour specialities in regionally significant flavours, Aromes also offers a wide-ranging flavour portfolio for the baked goods and confectionery industry. This final strategic part of the portfolio makes Döhler the ideal partner for the Eastern European food and beverage industry.

The Eastern European food and beverage market is one of the fastest-growing in the EU. By acquiring Aromes, Döhler is paving the way for further growth in the Eastern European flavours market and the expansion of business activities in the food segment.

Aromes Group has been manufacturing and selling raw materials for the food industry since 1991.

Its wide-ranging portfolio includes high quality flavours, beverage bases, emulsions, compounds, colours and other raw materials for confectionery, baked goods, ice cream, savoury products, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

These products are subjected to extensive consumer studies and constantly optimised according to trends on the Polish and global market.

Aromes is certified in accordance with the specifications of the ISO system.

The news comes as Döhler launches an innovation platform at www.we-bring-ideas-to-life.com, where external idea providers are integrated into the innovation process in a targeted way at Drinktec in Munich. This is how partnerships are formed with entrepreneurs, researchers, inventors and scientists in order to bring ideas from the entire food and beverage range to life. These ideas can range from natural ingredients to advanced technologies, and all the way to innovative end consumer products. True to the corporate slogan "WE BRING IDEAS TO LIFE.", Döhler offers its full range of expertise and global resources, thus creating unique conditions for putting ideas into practice. Depending on the requirements of the external innovators, tailor-made packages are created, including various elements such as support in R&D and applications, supply of innovative technologies, and supply chain solutions.

As a reliable, long-term-orientated investor, Döhler wants to help in establishing new and successful companies. To this end, the company has set up the venture capital fund "Döhler Equity" with an initial allocation of EUR 25 million. In addition to this financial investment, entrepreneurs benefit from Döhler's decades of experience and professional expertise in the food and beverage industry.

To speed up the go-to-market of innovations and ideas, Döhler has also designed the "Seed Program". This allows quick decision-making regarding financial support for promising ideas and projects; funding can range from EUR 50,000 to EUR 250,000. In this way, the ingredient manufacturer wants to establish sustainable partnerships built on fairness and integrity.

Under the umbrella of "Innovation Challenges", visitors to the Innovation Platform have the opportunity to develop creative solutions for specific challenges and problems in the food and beverage industry. Moreover, people and institutions with experience in the food and beverage industry have the chance to become part of the global Döhler Innovation Network, which consists of universities, suppliers and independent experts from the food and beverage industry.

By introducing the new platform, Döhler aims to promote entrepreneurship, thus continuing to strongly drive global innovations in the food and beverage industry.

www.we-bring-ideas-to-life.com