WILD Flavors to expand business activities in India

The natural ingredients expert WILD Flavors GmbH, Zug, Sitzerland, has significantly strengthened its capacity and product portfolio thanks to investments in sites and staff. The objective is to facilitate enhanced growth for its customer base with new business lines, to improve access to raw material, while also allowing for expansion into new markets and channels. India is one of the world’s most promising growth markets.

With over one billion inhabitants, it is the second-most populous country in the world after China, which makes it an extremely large target group for the food and beverage industry. Since acquiring the A.M. Todd Group in 2011, a leading provider of natural mint flavors and further ingredients, WILD has been present in India. Recently, WILD expanded its production capabilities at the site in Tarapur and opened a new site in Lucknow while the operations in Mumbai have moved into larger facilities.

At the end of last year, WILD enlarged the production facility in Tarapur which specializes in mint applications, and has invested in a new production unit for fruit flavors. This opens several new doors, such as combining fruit and mint flavors. Peter Naylor, LAI Management WILD, said: “With our competence in natural ingredients and our rapidly growing global structure, we have the option of boosting our mint business and offering the market the highest quality and innovation.” The mint products can be used in chewing gum, candies and other confectionery products. Furthermore, the acquisition gives WILD the option of expanding into new distribution channels such as oral and dental care.

Recently, WILD has also opened a new site in Lucknow, which lies in northern India close to the main mint-growing region. An analytical lab and purchasing office are located there; the employees there are responsible for purchasing and assessing raw materials. This puts WILD in a position to guarantee that its customers have reliable access to mint products of a consistently high quality. To achieve sustainable success in India, it is essential to have knowledge of the regional market and of flavor preferences. Peter Naylor explains: “WILD knows international markets and has decades of experience in product development, and customizes its formulations to the respective flavor preferences, always with an eye on our customers.” With its three locations, WILD is well placed to support its global customers building their presence in India as well as to continue expanding its presence in India in the future.

www.wildflavors.com