9Robertet
Grasse, France
Aiming to increase its market share by positioning itself in
developed markets, this year Robertet opened a new fragrance
compounding facility in Plan-de-Grasse, France. The company
invested E27 million in a 12,000-square-meter facility which
united the production, logistics and quality control operations
of Charabot and Robertet. The operations are slated to produce
4,000— 6,000 tons of fragrance annually and will conduct 1. 5
million weighting acts per year, 90% of which will be automated.
Robertet estimates the combined benefits will increase productivity by 50%. The company further discussed its business this
year and commented to P&F magazine about its outlook for
the years ahead.
First Person: Christophe Maubert, President, Fragrance Division, Robertet
On the main drivers for the company over the past year:
Maubert: Robertet has been making key investments in
several strategic areas to both build our business and
satisfy the needs of our customers around the world. From
investing in our employees and making key new hires, to
building brand new state of the art production facilities in
various locations around the globe, to ensuring our natural
ingredients are grown and sourced sustainably–all of
our efforts are focused on two priorities: protecting the
environment and delivering value to our clients. We continue
to stand behind our innovative “Seed to Scent” technology
with a new endeavor linked to our flavor division, which is
launching in 2013.
On factors impacting the business:
Maubert: There continues to be pressure on the industry for
full transparency of fragrance formulas, which threatens
our trade secrets. We do not want to become a commodity
business as that will truly be a disaster for the fragrance
industry as a total. We proudly support the good science being
conducted at our industry organizations, RIFM and IFRA, in
their efforts to ensure the safety of our fragrances. Robertet is
always seeking new ways to innovate with our technologies,
from high-performance delivery systems to superior malodor
counteraction and cost-efficient naturals. We know that
technology innovation is a key path to protected growth not
only for us, but for the industry as a whole.
On the impact of acquisitions throughout the industry and
the possibility of further industry consolidation:
Maubert: Robertet is a family owned company and has been
for five generations. Many of the recent consolidations and
acquisitions have affected both larger and smaller companies,
but Robertet will remain an independent company. We are
proud of our long history in the ingredient, fragrance and
flavor businesses.
On the company’s outlook for 2013–2015:
Maubert: At Robertet we think globally and are also sure
to act locally. From growing and sourcing naturals from
key locations around the world to local market production,
knowledge and expertise, we are constantly evaluating
our resources to suit our customer needs. We can see that
developing markets will continue to become increasingly
important to our fragrance clients. And we expect that our
business will shift toward these markets in the UAE [United
Arab Emirates], Africa and Southeast Asia, so we are making
sure we are properly positioned in these markets, as well
as Latin and South America, to best support our customers.
Consumers are seeking more and more transparency in the
products they buy across all industries and segments. We
are able to deliver complete transparency from the field to
the fragrance with our “Seed to Scent” program. And with
our 160 years of experience and knowledge working with
naturals, we are well positioned to deliver the ultimate in
quality and creativity to our fine fragrance accounts.
Industry
Vol.;38;•;June;2013;|;Perfumer;&;Flavorist
