dsm-firmenich opens new office and state -of-the-art application center in Kenya

KENYA – dsm-firmenich has officially opened its new office and state of the art application center in Nairobi, marking a key milestone in the company’s long-term commitment to innovation, flavour and ingredient excellence, and customer partnership across East Africa.

The new facility, located at The Cube on Nairobi’s Riverside Drive, was unveiled during an opening event held on 29 January 2026.

The event brought together customers, business partners, non-governmental organizations, industry associations, and diplomatic representatives, offering stakeholders an early look at the company’s expanded local capabilities.

Imaan Gaffore, VP Sales Taste for Africa Middle East and Turkey (AMET) says: “This milestone represents more than geographic expansion. It reflects a strategic choice and a long-term commitment to this region, to its people, and also to the future. This office enables us to combine global expertise with local capability in a way that creates real and long-lasting value. This office is not an endpoint, but it is a platform for growth, for innovation and for long-term impact across the whole of East Africa.”

Strategic location

The facility is set to strengthen dsm-firmenich’s service delivery in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda and the wider East African region.

The site is designed to enable closer collaboration between customers and the company’s technical and commercial teams, helping to accelerate product development cycles, improve localization, and support innovation tailored to regional preferences.

Commenting on the location, Marco Monteiro Regional VP TTH India Middle East and Africa (IMA), stated: “East Africa today stands as one of the most exciting growth regions in the world driven by a young population, urbanization, and rising consumer expectations for nutrition. Kenya is becoming a hub for regional manufacturing, agricultural transformation, and scientific talent making a home for our expanded innovation capabilities.

“Africa’s food & beverage sector is projected to reach US$1 trillion by 2030 with East Africa being its fastest growing sub-region. Kenya’s food processing sector is expanding at 6-8% a year, outpacing many global markets.”

With East Africa’s population rapidly urbanizing and more than 60% of its people under the age of 25, the region is undergoing a major shift in food and beverage consumption. Young, urban consumers are increasingly seeking convenient, nutritious, and culturally relevant products that fit fast‑paced lifestyles.

To support manufacturers in meeting these evolving needs, dsm‑firmenich has launched its Nairobi‑based Application Center—an innovation hub designed for co‑creation with customers.

A Center Designed for Collaboration

At the heart of the new facility is a dedicated Application Center built to support co-creation.

During the opening event, visitors were taken on a guided tour of the Application Center, where teams demonstrated capabilities across beverages, bakery, confectionery, dairy, and savoury, showcasing category expertise and formulation support.

The demonstrations showcased rapid prototyping and concept development approaches aligned with East African consumer insights and regulatory requirements.

Arif Antar, Sales Director Taste for the East African region and Country Leader for Kenya stated: “The new hub will allow faster turnaround times on customer briefs, more targeted innovation, and enhanced technical support for food and beverage manufacturers operating in the region’s fast-evolving market.”

In addition, the program also featured expertise from the Health, Nutrition & Care team, who highlighted fortification solutions for healthier products, reinforcing the growing demand for accessible nutrition across the region.

dsm-firmenich’s Perfumery and Beauty portfolio was also showcased, highlighting a range of innovative solutions across Body, Hair, and Home Care.

These creations were inspired by the East African region and feature fragrances grounded in consumer insights & regional knowledge, offering strong potential for implementation across local markets.

This glimpse served as a teaser of the broader East African Fragrance Collection, with the opportunity to reveal additional elements of the collection based on client interests and needs.

With the launch of the Nairobi center, the company says it is entering a new phase in East Africa, characterized by deeper customer partnerships, increased agility, and a stronger local presence to respond to the changing needs of manufacturers and consumers across the region.

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