Senomyx and Cadbury develop new flavour ingredients for gum

06-Jan-2011 - Last updated on 06-Jan-2011 at 12:07 GMT

Flavour development company Senomyx has forged a partnership with confectionery manufacturer Cadbury Adams USA, a Kraft Foods division, to develop and commercialise new flavor modulators for gum and medicated confectionery products.

Gwen Rosenberg, Senomyx’s vice president, investor relations and corporate communications told ConfectioneryNews.com: “During the collaboration, Cadbury Adams will be able to evaluate and select flavor modulators for worldwide commercialization in gum and medicated confectionery products.

“In return, Cadbury Adams will pay Senomyx development funding and specified payments upon the achievement of milestones as well as royalty payments based on sales of products using the new Senomyx flavor modulators.”

Novel flavour modifiers

Senomyx has proprietary technologies that it is using to discover and develop new ingredients, including novel flavor modifiers, she said.

Kent Snyder, the company’s chief executive officer added: "Senomyx had a relationship with Cadbury Adams prior to its acquisition by Kraft Foods, and we are pleased to initiate this new collaboration."

Senomyx’s partnership with Cadbury Adams/Kraft Foods is the latest in a line of industry collaborations. “During the second half of 2010 we entered into a new collaboration with PepsiCo,” said Rosenberg “We also have collaborative agreements with Ajinomoto Co. Inc., Campbell Soup Company, Firmenich SA, Nestlé SA, and Solae.”

No information was available about the nature of the new flavor modulators or the length of the partnership agreement.

Senomyx, which develops novel flavor ingredients for the food, beverage, and ingredient supply industries, had a prior agreement with Cadbury Adams for the discovery and commercialization of new flavor ingredients in the gum confectionery area. This expired about the time Kraft Foods acquired Cadbury Adams.

Euromonitor estimates the retail value of the global gum market at $15,408.5m at fixed 2010 exchange rates.

The value of the world medicated confectionery market is estimated at $3,238.1m.

Meanwhile, last month Senomyx announced the expansion of its collaboration with flavour and perfume company Firmenich to include the discovery, development and commercialization of natural sweet enhancers.

Natural flavour ingredients

The agreement covers Senomyx's sweet-taste technology and focuses on the discovery, development, and worldwide commercialization of natural flavor ingredients intended to enhance the taste of sucrose, fructose, and Rebaudioside (stevia).

Speaking last month Snyder said: "We believe Firmenich's decision to expand the collaboration to include natural sweet enhancers is a reflection of the success of our novel technologies, the positive working relationship between the two companies, and the large market opportunity for natural flavor ingredients.”