Kerry has opened a new regional Innovation Center at Expo City Dubai, bringing its global taste and nutrition expertise closer to food and beverage customers across the Middle East. The facility is designed to help companies turn consumer insights and ingredient innovations into locally tailored products, potentially compressing development cycles from months to days.
The center brings together shared kitchens, application laboratories and a sensory room where customers can work alongside Kerry chefs and scientists to taste, test and refine new products before commercialization.
It is also supported by Kerry's proprietary AI tools, including Kalaido for product innovation and Nexus for recipe formulation. These platforms draw on market data and the expertise of more than 1,300 Kerry scientists working across 60 technology and innovation centers worldwide.
“Our new Innovation Center reflects our long-term commitment to the Middle East and to helping our customers grow," said Edmond Scanlon, CEO, Kerry Group. "By bringing Kerry’s global expertise in taste and nutrition closer to customers in the region, we can work together to create better products that reflect local tastes and evolving consumer needs. Our collaboration with Dubai Future Foundation puts that ambition into practice, exploring how we can improve the nutritional profile of familiar foods without compromising the taste people love.”
The opening also launches the Taste of Tomorrow Challenge, a collaboration with Dubai Future Foundation that will bring local chefs, creators and Kerry scientists together to rethink traditional Emirati and Dubai dishes.
The challenge focuses on reducing salt, sugar or fat in familiar favorites, including karak, laban and luqaimat, while preserving their characteristic taste. Teams will work on three briefs—live longer, perform better and feel better—developing their dishes in Kerry's kitchens over 10 days, from November 9-19.
The teams will present their creations at Dubai Future Week on November 20, pitching to judges and offering tastings to visitors and media. Awards will recognize the best dish for each brief, a crowd favorite and an overall winner.
“Our customers across the region want products made for local tastes, and they want them fast," said Peter Dillane, president and CEO, Kerry APMEA. "Our new Innovation center gives them a place to do that. With Kerry’s proprietary AI tools such as Kalaido, and our scientists working side by side with local chefs, we can taste, test and refine new ideas right here in Dubai.”
The new facility builds on Kerry's presence in the UAE, where the company opened its first development center in Dubai in 2013. The Expo City location extends that work to customers across the Middle East and beyond.
