Five new tastes on the Symrise

Five fruity taste categories are the backbone for newly forged flavours company Symrise at the upcoming Brau 2003 tradeshow.

Born out of the merger of fragrance and flavour houses Dragoco and Haarmann & Reimer in February this year, the company - thought to be capable of sales of €1,245 million -, will present itself to the drinks world in November under the motto 'taste'.

The company is clearly out to push fruit profiles, and as such citrus, red fruit, yellow fruit, tropical fruit and herbs will form the backbone of its presentation. In addition, Symrise will showcase 'Citrus Tools for Taste' a standalone, 'holistic branding concept' for citrus flavours.

In autumn 2002 the equity group EQT acquired the world's fifth largest flavours and fragrances maker, Haarmann & Reimer, from then-owner, Bayer. At the same time, EQT acquired shares in its competitor Dragoco, leading to a merger between the two rivals.

Swedish financial investor EQT Northern Europe Private Equity Funds (EQT) has a controlling 76 per cent in the new company with the NordLB bank topping up the remaining 2 per cent stake.

The purchase immediately fired the company into the ranks of the top industry players, competiting against US giant International Fragrances and Flavors and Swiss group Givaudan.

Last year Haarmann & Reimer reported sales of €872 million, while Dragoco's 2001 sales generated €372 million.