Germany-based fragrance and flavoring manufacturer Symrise has established a special business unit to expand its portfolio of health-oriented foods.

The new Consumer Health unit will specialize in creating functional ingredients for food supplements and flavor solutions for health products. The Symrise consumer-health team will be a driving force in the corporation’s health & nutrition strategy.

The trend toward well-balanced and healthy eating habits is still going strong: today’s consumers want products that meet several demands at once, the company said. Food has to be healthy and give them a feeling of wellness, but it also has to be convenient and taste good.

There are two particular factors influencing this trend. One is that consumers’ awareness of health issues is growing, and at the same time, the individualization of their needs is increasing as well. People want custom-tailored products, which are not just “healthy” but also fill specific functions—strengthen the heart, rejuvenate the skin, slow the aging process or support physical fitness.

Symrise is responding to this growing market by increasing its focus on health and nutrition. Consumer Health will develop a wide range of functional ingredients for modern food supplements and offer flavor solutions for health products, such as OTC drugs, medical food and diet foods.

The business unit will be supported in its work by the Symrise Competence Center for Health & Nutrition, which works as an independent entity for all four business units (Beverages, Savory, Sweet and Consumer Health). The Competence Center provides the units market and consumer data as well as information about product safety. It also assists them in developing innovative products and ingredients based on scientific and nutritional insights.

“By focusing on health and nutrition, Symrise is continuing to establish itself as a competent partner where health-oriented foods are concerned,” said as Dirk Bennwitz, senior vice president Business Consumer Health. “Our highly motivated and experienced team will support our clients in creating modern health concepts for a growing market.”