Centre for developing markets

Kerry Group, the global ingredients and flavours and consumer foods group, has opened the Kerry Regional Development & Application Centre in Dubai, UAE, to serve its global and regional customer base in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey.

The centre, which is at the Jumeriah Lakes Towers, Dubai, was officially opened by Minister Simon Coveney, Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Working closely with Kerry’s Global Technology & Innovation Centre for EMEA markets, which is currently under construction in Ireland, the new centre will support the day-to-day development needs of Kerry customers across developing markets including the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey.

Gerry Behan, president & CEO Kerry Ingredients & Flavours, says: “The Kerry investment in the Dubai based centre is testament to the Group’s determination to service customer requirements in this important developing region. Here we will align our Kerry Taste and Nutritional offerings with local market trends and consumer demand – working in conjunction with our global centre to drive innovation across the beverage, dairy, meat, snack, confectionery and bakery industries.

“This Centre will support our global customers who are expanding their footprint in the region, while bringing the benefits of our global technologies to local food and beverage producers – supporting indigenous industry development.

“The Centre will allow our commercial teams to better collaborate with customers in the region and we are confident that it will be a key differentiator in meeting the product development needs of our customers.”

The opening ceremony was also attended by Ireland’s Ambassador to the UAE Mr Patrick Hennessy, Mr Ahmed Bin Sulayem chairman of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, senior officials of Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and senior representatives of the Irish Food Board, Enterprise Ireland and Kerry’s EMEA Region.