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IFF has invested $15.8 million in three of its innovation centres in Latin America – located in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Bogota, Colombia and Santiago, Chile. With the investment, the company says it will be better positioned to serve each local market. The sites feature research, application and sensory labs and pilot plants, offering customers access to full product-design capabilities. “This substantial investment is consistent with IFF’s strategy to support the growth potential of Latin America,” said Zacarias Karacristo, country leader of IFF Brazil and regional president of Nourish division, IFF, Latin America. “It is also a testament of our commitment to being a key innovation partner to our regional customers.” “These regional innovation centres allow us to co-create so that we can help them transform ideas into essential solutions that address the latest consumer needs and market trends with agility and purpose,” he added. IFF's Brazil facility houses laboratories and pilot plants that serve categories including bakery, confectionery, beverages, culinary and snacks, meat, fats and oils, dairy and ice cream. Its Columbia site aims to support the product development of food and beverage, home and personal care, and health and wellness segments and will serve customers in Colombia, South Central America and the greater Andean and Caribbean regions. Meanwhile, IFF's Chile centre will focus on product development in the bakery, bars, confectionery, beverages, dairy, culinary and snacks categories.