Tate & Lyle opens latest Indonesian innovation centre, as the company’s chair steps down
Pic: Tate & Lyle
Global ingredient solutions business Tate & Lyle PLC has successfully opened the doors of its latest Customer Innovation and Collaboration Centre in Jakarta, Indonesia, reports Neill Barston.
As the company noted, the move marks a significant milestone for the company, as it continues to drive an expanded presence in the Asia Pacific region – with the company engaged in delivering a broad range of industry solutions, including for the confectionery sector.
The company has operated in Indonesia for more than a decade, with the new facility marking the next chapter of its growth within the sector.
Furthermore, the business explained that its new centre, a combined office and laboratory, Tate & Lyle aims to support healthy living in Indonesia through food science and ingredient solution innovation. The opening was attended by senior Tate & Lyle leadership, food and beverage customers, and other industry, nutrition and business leaders.
At the new centre located in Central Jakarta, Tate & Lyle customers will create new or reformulated, on-trend food and drink products that meet local needs and preferences. Tate & Lyle’s local technical, commercial and sales experts based at the new centre, and the customer they partner with, will also continue to be supported by its global specialist network of nutrition, regulation, and application experts.
Nick Hampton, Tate & Lyle Chief Executive, who opened the new centre at the inauguration event, said: “As a global company that has been operating since 1859, Tate & Lyle is an expert in helping food and drink producers to make tasty food healthier and healthy food tastier. That’s why we’re excited to open our Customer Innovation and Collaboration Centre in Indonesia, one of a 17-strong global network of labs. From our new base in Central Jakarta, our local team will help food and drink producers to tap into our leading ingredient portfolio and unmatched ability to formulate across the intersection of sweetening, mouthfeel and fortification, co-creating foods and drinks with less sugar, fat and calories and with the added nutritional benefits of fibre and plant protein.
Hampton continued: ”This is Tate & Lyle’s latest investment in Asia Pacific, following our acquisition of a leading stevia business in China in 2020, a tapioca modified food starch manufacturer in Thailand in 2021, and a China-based global leader in prebiotic fibres in 2022.”
At least 13 percent of the Indonesian population suffers from diabetes, with the potential for a significant increase each year.1 Tate & Lyle’s commitment to enabling healthy eating is aligned with the efforts of the Indonesian Ministry of Health in preventing diabetes.
Also present at the launch event was Expert Staff of Macroeconomics of the Ministry of Investment/Investment Coordinating Board of the Republic of Indonesia (BKPM), Iwan Suryana. “The food and beverage industry in Indonesia will continue to grow. Food and drink are not only needed for people to live, but also for them to be healthy,” Suryana explained. “We hope that Tate & Lyle can contribute to our country, especially with regards to the food and beverage produced by the industry, which can produce healthy food for the community, so we support the presence of Tate & Lyle. We really hope that Tate & Lyle is successful in Indonesia,” added Suryana.
Head of Nutrition, Regulatory, and Scientific Affairs at Tate & Lyle, Kavita Karnik, M.Med. Sci., PhD, stated: “There is a substantial body of scientific evidence that shows that low and no calorie sweeteners can help people reduce calorie and sugar intake, and manage weight when used as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. We also use our portfolio of dietary fibres to not only reduce sugar, which they can do very effectively, but to provide additional health benefits such as help with maintaining blood glucose and keeping us feeling fuller for longer, which can help with weight management. Emerging science, including the multi-national research collaborations we establish and drive, shows dietary fibre can provide wider benefits, from brain health to metabolic health and reduced risk of non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes, which is why we predict it will be a growing local trend in Indonesia.”
Chair steps down
In other major company news, the business has confirmed that Dr Gerry Murphy has decided to step down as Chair of the Board of Tate & Lyle, a position he has held for more than six years, to take up the position of Chair of the Board of Tesco plc. Dr Murphy will remain Chair of Tate & Lyle until 1 September 2023.
The Board has begun a process to appoint a successor to Dr Murphy. Mr Paul Forman, Senior Independent Director, is leading this process and a further announcement will be made in due course.
As previously announced, Mr Forman was due to retire from the Tate & Lyle Board at the AGM on 27 July 2023. In light of Dr Murphy’s decision, Mr Forman will continue as a non-executive director and as Senior Independent Director to allow time to complete the search process. The Board will therefore propose an additional resolution at the AGM in respect of Mr Forman’s annual re-election as a non-executive director, in accordance with applicable corporate governance guidance. When the search for a new Chair has been concluded, Mr Forman will retire from the Board and Kim Nelson will take up the position of Senior Independent Director, as previously announced.
Pending the appointment of a new Chair, the Board has appointed Warren Tucker as Interim Chair of Tate & Lyle from 1 September 2023. Warren is currently Chair of the Audit Committee and will continue in this role during this interim period.
Nick Hampton, Chief Executive said: “Gerry has made a significant contribution to Tate & Lyle over the last six years. He has led the Board expertly through a major strategic transformation to reposition Tate & Lyle as a growth focussed global speciality food and beverage solutions business meeting growing consumer demand for healthier and tastier food and drink. It has been a pleasure to work alongside him. On behalf of the Board, we thank him for his leadership and wish him well in his new role.”
