In late March, Kerry, purveyor of taste and nutrition solutions, celebrated the opening of its new West Coast Customer Engagement Center in Commerce, CA. 

The company's newly renovated customer engagement space will act as an important co-creation center aimed at West Coast food and beverage manufacturers, it says. Deploying global technology in a local setting, the Commerce facility will facilitate rapid development and refinement of food and beverage solutions in collaboration with customers. With enhanced application, research, development, and pilot manufacturing facilities on site, Kerry aims to support local customers in real time to develop and launch food products to market. 

We were able to connect with John Kaufman, VP of snack, Kerry, to chat more about the new center.

Liz Parker Kuhn: How is Kerry supporting sustainable food and beverage in California and beyond? 

John Kaufman: We are dedicated to providing consumers with the best-tasting, nutritious options that offer great value. Our efforts include reducing sodium and sugar, as well as addressing specific need states like digestive health and immunity.

At Kerry, we are committed to supporting sustainable food and beverage practices in California and beyond through a multifaceted approach that blends innovation, nutrition, and environmental responsibility. Our efforts are focused on providing consumers with high-quality, great-tasting options that not only deliver nutritional benefits but also prioritize the well-being of our planet. We are actively addressing key health trends by reducing sodium, sugar, and other ingredients that are often of concern for modern consumers, ensuring our products support healthier lifestyles. This commitment to nutrition is part of our broader goal to create sustainable food solutions that meet the growing demand for better-for-you options while also improving the nutritional profile of everyday food and beverages. Beyond health, we are deeply invested in reducing our environmental footprint. We also focus on reducing waste, minimizing water usage, and improving energy efficiency in our work to support and share sustainable nutrition with the world. Additionally, we are committed to addressing specific health needs such as digestive health and immunity, creating products that cater to these essential wellness areas. By integrating these practices into our daily operations, Kerry is proud to be a leader in sustainable food and beverage production, delivering not just delicious and nutritious products but also contributing to a more sustainable future for consumers in California and around the world.

LPK: How can the brand’s newly renovated West Coast Center support this?   

JK: Having a location on the West Coast gives our customers a convenient location for our experts to help them innovate and renovate. It’s important for our customers to be efficient with their time and resources, and the location in California helps us reach them.

[In addition], having a location on the West Coast offers a significant advantage for both our team and our customers. It provides a convenient, accessible hub where our team of experts can work closely with clients to drive innovation and renovation in their products. We understand that now more than ever, time is a critical for manufacturers, and our West Coast presence allows us to be highly responsive to customer needs, ensuring that we can quickly provide tailored solutions that align with their specific goals. For many of our U.S.-based customers, the new location means fewer logistical barriers and quicker turnaround times, providing them with the support they need when they need it most. We recognize the importance of reducing lead times and helping our clients move quickly, safely, and accurately, which ultimately saves both time and money.

LPK: What’s next for Kerry in 2025?    

JK: 2025 marks a pivotal year for Reformulation. With the ongoing changes, now is the perfect time to rethink and redesign products. It's essential to review product design to enhance nutrition, optimize costs, and ensure that the products consumers purchase are both nutritious AND delicious.

With changing consumer preferences, new regulations, a demand for healthier, more sustainable foods, and the impacts of climate change, 2025 is already a pivotal year for Reformulation. Now is the perfect time to for food and beverage manufacturers to redesign products to not only meet these challenges, but to seize new opportunities for innovation and growth. This involves reimagining ingredients, optimizing nutritional profiles, and creating products that are both better for consumers and better for the environment. By prioritizing Reformulation, we can enhance the nutritional value of our offerings through practices like sugar and sodium reduction that contribute to better health outcomes without compromising on taste or quality.

Optimizing costs is another critical aspect of Reformulation. As raw material prices fluctuate and the demand for sustainable practices grows, it's important for brands to explore ways to reduce their exposure to volatile markets while maintaining quality. By leveraging innovation in ingredient sourcing and production techniques, companies that partner with our team at Kerry can improve efficiency, lower costs, and pass on savings to consumers, while still meeting consumer expectations. At the heart of our Reformulation effort is the goal of delivering products that are nutritious and delicious. Today’s consumers expect foods that are functional, delicious, and fit into their busy lives. This means that taste can never be sacrificed throughout the reformulation process. By integrating flavor with nutrition, brands can create products that people will not only feel good about eating, but also enjoy.

As we move through 2025 and beyond, Reformulation is a necessity for brands looking to stay competitive, relevant, and aligned with the needs of consumers. This year offers an incredible opportunity to make meaningful changes that will shape the future of food, benefiting both consumers and the planet in the process.

Related: Kerry unveils Taste Charts Smarts