New flavour division for Kerry

Irish food ingredients company Kerry Group formally introduced its new flavour division, Mastertaste during a press conference at the IFT's Annual Meeting and Food Expo in Anaheim, California, this week.

The company told reporters that Mastertaste was the culmination of a fast-track five-year-plan that Kerry began four years ago aimed at becoming more active in the segment and building a global presence in the flavour business.

"Our customers were telling us that they wanted to be able to buy ingredients and flavours from one company,"​ explained Hugh Friel, managing director, Kerry Group.

Foundations for the new division began in 1998 with Kerry's purchase of Dalgety. Since this time, a series of acquisitions including ones in Italy, Australia and several in the United States, have built on the foundations. The new company has set up global headquarters outside of Chicago, and plans to continue its growth organically and through acquisitions, Friel said.