Shaping the Future of Flavor Through Emotion, Science and Nature

*Commentary courtesy of Mark Bailey, Senior Vice President, Global Flavors Division, Robertet

• 2025 revenue: €843.9 million (across categories)
• Headquarters: Grasse, France

"By elevating nature through science, emotion, and entrepreneurial spirit, Robertet does more than develop flavors, it crafts experiences that inspire, reassure and endure," says Mark Bailey, senior vice president, global flavors division, Robertet.RobertetWith 175 years of expertise and deep roots in Grasse, the Robertet flavors division continues to pursue a clear ambition: to elevate natural flavor solutions through innovation. Yet beyond heritage and expertise, the true strength of Robertet lies at the heart of its business: creation, entrepreneurship, and the relentless desire to help customers’ brands succeed with their consumers.

In a world shaped by changing dietary habits, rising health awareness, and growing sustainability expectations, flavor has taken on a new dimension. It is no longer simply about taste performance. It is about emotion, trust and delivering reassurance and joy in every consumer experience.

At Robertet, creation is at the heart of everything we do with a mindset that drives the transformation of natural raw materials into meaningful sensory experiences. Our flavorists embody the entrepreneurial spirit that empowers teams to challenge convention, anticipate shifts, and move with agility in an increasingly complex marketplace.

Elevating Nature through Science and Emotion

"By uniting science and emotion, Robertet elevates flavor from a technical component to a strategic lever for brand success helping customers build stronger, more lasting connections with the consumers," says Mark Bailey, senior vice president, global flavors division, Robertet.RobertetNaturality is not seen as a constraint, but as a source of differentiation and inspiration. Through its Futuring Naturals vision, Robertet combines scientific excellence, sensory mastery, and ethical responsibility across the entire value chain. More than 1,600 natural raw materials sourced from over 50 countries form the palette from which our creators design authentic and emotionally resonant flavor solutions.

What makes this approach distinctive is the integration of emotion into innovation. Through technical and sensory expertise, Robertet can leverage proprietary patented tools inspired by AI and neuroscience to decode how consumers truly feel when they taste a product. This enables creators to move beyond formulation to crafting experiences that can spark emotions such as comfort, nostalgia, energy, or indulgence.

By uniting science and emotion, Robertet elevates flavor from a technical component to a strategic lever for brand success helping customers build stronger, more lasting connections with the consumers.

Entrepreneurial Innovation Serving Brand Performance

"Whether addressing sugar or salt reduction, bitterness masking, or nutritional fortification, the objective always remains clear; improve nutritional value without sacrificing pleasure," says Mark Bailey, senior vice president, global flavors division, Robertet.RobertetInnovation at Robertet is sparked by proximity. Proximity to nature, to customers, and to consumers. Talented, cross-functional teams in research, marketing, and creation work together to transform global trends into concrete, market-ready solutions.

Whether addressing sugar or salt reduction, bitterness masking, or nutritional fortification, the objective always remains clear; improve nutritional value without sacrificing pleasure: “if it ain’t tasting great, the consumer won’t buy it!”

Robertet is at the forefront of innovations in the functional food and drinks market thanks to our unique integrated sourcing, our extraction processes our analytical methods and formulation expertise. Positiv’Food comes from the synergy between the Health and Beauty division and the flavor division by combining the expertise of both divisions. Natural active ingredients are integrated into our flavor systems that support well-being and credible claims, aligned with regulatory frameworks across regions.

This collaborative approach ensures that innovation directly fuels brand growth. . Rather than pursuing disruptive profiles, Robertet evolves known tastes through subtle natural nuances and textures, allowing brands to innovate progressively while maintaining consumer confidence.

Glocal Strength, Resilient Future

"The future of flavor demands resilience as much as creativity. Supply volatility, environmental pressures, and regional diversity require an innovation model that is both globally connected and locally empowered," says Mark Bailey, senior vice president, global flavors division, Robertet.RobertetThe future of flavor demands resilience as much as creativity. Supply volatility, environmental pressures, and regional diversity require an innovation model that is both globally connected and locally empowered.

Robertet’s “glocal” strategy reflects this belief: combining centralized scientific excellence with strong regional presence and entrepreneurial agility. Investments such as the new development platform in Poland reinforce customer proximity while strengthening the group’s international innovation network.

Programs like the cocoa reduction program further demonstrate how creation and science come together to solve complex challenges, preserving indulgence while responding to economic and sustainability pressures.

Across all initiatives, sustainability is embedded as a structural driver of performance and trust, from responsible sourcing and traceability to upcycling and co-product valorization.

At its core, Robertet’s ambition is simple yet powerful: to future naturals by putting creation at the service of brands, and brands at the service of consumers.

By elevating nature through science, emotion, and entrepreneurial spirit, Robertet does more than develop flavors, it crafts experiences that inspire, reassure, and endure.