Synergy to launch cheaper alternative to coconut milk
Through a process of analysing the compounds that characterise coconut, Synergy's research and development team devised a natural solution.
"We started from scratch," said Synergy's innovations director, Ian Butler. "We identified the key aroma molecules of the coconut milk. We spent a lot of the time tailor-making the flavour. It wasn't hard to get our product to taste the same. All our innovation teams are linked so because of this enhanced communication everyone knew what we had to create. We just had to get the profile close."
The development process was fast. Synergy says it developed the product in just three months. "Development times are getting shorter," said Butler. "We saw there was a key need for this product so we dedicated a lot of resource to it."
Synergy has been expanding its innovation activities. Over the last 18 months the firm has increased the headcount of its research and development team by 20%. Last year it created a new analytical research function in the UK to develop its product portfolio. It has invested in preparation techniques that capture compounds. With this insight into which compounds characterise certain foods, it is developing new flavour formulations, such as Coconut Booster.
This particular project was cost-driven but the firm's portfolio is heavily orientated towards developing natural flavourings.
Synergy's customer marketing manager Donna Rose said: "We believe we can offer a cost-effective solution to help our clients control their costs. We listened to our customers and looked at the needs of the market and came up with a solution."
