Kalsec Inc., which has its global headquarters in Kalamazoo, is expanding its existing footprint on the European continent with the opening of its Savoury Product Innovation Centre of Excellence (SPICE Lab) in Wageningen, Netherlands.
Kalsec is a natural ingredient solutions provider for the food and beverage industry. The new facility will demonstrate Kalsec’s leadership in developing taste and sensory solutions derived from nature, with an emphasis on sauces, dressings, and condiments applications.
The fully equipped laboratory will be used for the development of antioxidant and color capabilities, as well as a culinary kitchen that can be used for customer projects and spiraling. There will be six full-time team members there, led by Dr. David Johnson, Kalsec’s Director of R&D – Europe (who recently relocated from Kalamazoo).
“We chose to locate our new SPICE Lab in the heart of the Wageningen Food Valley to strengthen our position in the region and reinforce our commitment to our European customers,” says Julie Heine, president and chief commercial officer of Kalsec. “We are excited to tap into the abundance of agrifood innovation clustered at and around Wageningen University & Research.”
Kalsec has served food manufacturing customers in Europe for nearly 30 years, and has a regional headquarters located in the United Kingdom. The company worked in cooperation with Oost NL, the East Netherlands Development Agency; Foodvalley NL as a network partner for practical valorisation; and world-renowned University and Research institution WUR to establish Kalsec operations in Wageningen.
Johnson, Kalsec’s director of R&D – Europe, is building an international team of food scientists to facilitate research and new product development at the SPICE Lab. “We look forward to working in this amazing ecosystem as we develop partnerships with other pioneering food industry organizations,” he says.
Kalsec’s SPICE Lab is located at Plus Ultra II, a multi-tenant business facility on the Wageningen Campus. Plus Ultra II was developed by Kadans Science Partner with a priority on sustainability and the building has been categorized as energy label class A.
WUR is similarly focused, with a mission to explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life, and a GreenMetric ranking as the most sustainable university in the world. As a certified B Corp, Kalsec shares this dedication to sustainability, with a commitment to meeting the highest verified standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.
“It is our purpose to unlock the potential of people, nature and science to nourish the world,” says Heine. “We are proud to contribute to the advancement of a more sustainable global food system.”
Family owned and headquartered in Kalamazoo since 1958, Kalsec has regional offices, laboratories, and sales teams in North America, Europe, and Asia.
For more information, visit kalsec.com.
