Oterra has inaugurated a new color blending and application center in Kerala, India, to serve the growing Indian, Asia Pacific and Middle East markets.
The facility in Kochi, Ernakulam district, is housed on the site of Oterra’s Akay Natural Ingredients subsidiary. It includes color blending and application labs to support customers in their journey to transitioning to natural colors.
“India and the wider APAC region is a market that is growing in importance for us as consumers increasingly favor products made with natural ingredients,” said Oterra CEO Martin Sonntag.
“India’s strategic location offers easy access to emerging sectors not only in India itself, but also in neighboring regions such as the Middle East. We have customers in all these locations and can now offer them an even better service.”
Previously, the company exported raw materials to Oterra factories in Europe for processing and imported the finished blends for use in India. Now, Oterra can supply directly from this facility some of the most commonly seen color shades used in the food and beverage industry, including yellow, orange, red, and pink made from raw materials such as turmeric, paprika, annatto and red beet.
The company employs 120 workers in both production and laboratories at the site. The raw materials go through a process of spray drying and then mixing for use in food and beverages. The site also includes an innovation and application laboratory with the latest equipment.
“We will be able to support the majority of our customer’s needs from our lab in India for products such as juices, concentrates, hard-boiled candy, jelly gums, biscuits, and cakes,” said Akay Natural Ingredients Director and Head of Operations Manu Raj V.
“Having a local facility allows us to streamline the supply chain and ensure a more consistent supply of high-quality natural colors,” he added. “It also allows us to respond more quickly to customer demands, reducing lead times and improving our ability to meet market needs in India and the surrounding regions.”