Robertet focuses on soft drinks in flavor expansion
sales growth in the US market with a $20m expansion of its American
flavors facility.
The new facilities will double Robertet's large-scale liquid production capabilities to meet the increase in the soft drinks market. In 2007, the sport drinks market has increased by almost 10 percent, iced coffee by 10 percent, bottled water is up 11 percent, iced tea sales have increased 13 percent and sales of energy drinks are up 30 percent, according to Canadean. Meanwhile, carbonated drink sales have not increased, but maintain a strong foothold in the market, according to the Nielsen Company. Total sales for the year reached $17.6bn, topping the list of all packaged goods purchased in the US last year. Robertet's development will include juice blending and high volume homogenization, and will further increase the company's refrigerated, frozen, and ambient warehouse storage and high speed packaging capabilities. "Not only are we breaking ground on our liquid blending facility expansion, but we're also near completion of a 60,000 square foot dry blending facility on an adjacent property, which will triple our current powdered products capacity," said Peter Lombardo, president of Robertet North America. "That facility will consolidate spray drying and proprietary encapsulation technologies, as well as tea powder blending into one central location." The 60,000 square foot extension is taking place eight years after the company completed construction of its US flavors headquarters. The company has experienced rapid development in its flavors division, with coffee becoming an increasingly popular flavor, as well as cranberry and pomegranate as a result of the growing superfruits trend. It has also noticed an increasing demand for natural and organic products. The company provides its flavors mainly to the beverages, dairy, confectionery and pharmaceuticals industries. This second liquid production site has been designed as a separate, self-contained building and is expected to be operational by the end of this year. Lombardo continued: "This $20m capital investment further demonstrates Robertet's commitment to our customers and to the Robertet Group's growth in the US market. This expansion will dramatically increase our capabilities in servicing the requirements of Robertet's growing customer base." The Robertet Group supplies flavors, fragrances and raw materials worldwide. It was established in France in 1850. As well as developing its flavors division in North America, Robertet has a growing perfumery facility located in Manhattan.
