Speciality ingredients supplier Cornelius has launched a new creative centre, designed to host joint development project workshops with partners and customers.

Based at its Bishop’s Stortford headquarters in the UK, the creative centre features a contemporary suite available to host workshops seminars and meetings. This will complement the company’s additional investment in a care products laboratory and a health and nutrition kitchen at the site.

 Technical experts, samples, technology and information will be available for customers looking to optimise their new product development (NPD) processes.

Newly appointed Cornelius CEO Darren Spiby said: “Our vision for the creative centre is that it will become a conduit for creative growth and allow our customers to benefit from added-value product development solutions. It presents an exciting opportunity for our customers and internal teams to experience an efficient, effective and collaborative innovation approach.

“Our innovation and application (IAS) support teams will be responsible for delivering ideation, sampling and proof of concept work that complements new product development. Their expertise, combined with our creative suite and laboratory facilities, will deliver targeted, advanced innovation results.”

The newly designed health and nutrition kitchen at the centre will allow Cornelius food technologists to test recipes, explore new ingredients, create demonstrations and develop or reformulate products. As well as working on customer-specific briefs, the innovation and application support team will produce innovative solutions for core market, including bakery and confectionery.

In 2015, Cornelius enjoyed sales of around £65m and employs 150 people, shipping raw materials and speciality ingredients to customers in over 30 countries.

Last month Cornelius partnered with food ingredients company Agropur to bring a clean whey protein supplement to market.