The Irish multinational Kerry Group has installed its new innovation hub for Southern European markets in Barcelona. The company, specialized in ingredients for the food industry, has invested two million euros in this headquarters, which has allowed the creation of a dozen jobs.
The center, located in Zona Franca, is dedicated to the research of new products, with a special focus on research for more sustainable nutrition, and is mainly oriented towards the clients that the multinational has in Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy. In a statement, the vice president and general manager of Kerry Group in Southern Europe, Juan Soto, highlighted that with the launch of the new hub, the company has invested more than 200 million in the last four years in the peninsula, where it has acquired the companies Vendin, Hasenosa, Pevesa, and Biosearch Life.
In this regard, Soto assures that the company's "strategic investments" in the region "underscore the emergence of Southern Europe as a very important base" for food manufacturing and innovation. In the new Barcelona center, the group will have various laboratories for the production of ingredients for the food industry, in addition to other testing areas to research new flavors and applications. The business aims to supply food and beverage manufacturing companies and also the pharmaceutical sector.
Kerry Group has had the support of Acció, the agency for business competitiveness of the Generalitat, and has received aid of 182,000 euros through the high-impact business investment aid program, reports ACN.
Kerry Group originated from Ireland's main dairy cooperative, where it is still the benchmark in the distribution of fresh milk and dairy products, although its main business is now the production of all types of ingredients, such as flavors, proteins, natural extracts, enzymes, prebiotics, texturizers, sauces, or condiments. The multinational, which is listed on the stock exchange, has more than 23,000 employees in 150 plants distributed across 36 countries. It has a portfolio of 18,000 products and sales that in 2022 amounted to 8.8 billion euros. Since 1998, the company has had commercial offices in Barcelona.
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