Roquette to open “phygital” beauty expertise center in France

09 Oct 2020 --- Roquette Beauté is embracing a “phygital” – physical and digital – strategy for its new expertise center in Paris, France. This opening comes as Roquette is also set to complete the world’s largest pea protein plant in Canada by the end of this year.

Slated for a November opening, Roquette Beauté’s first expertise center will help its customers and partners better address the plant-based cosmetics market challenges, Bénédicte Courel, general manager of the cosmetics business at Roquette, tells NutritionInsight. 

“Only two years after its successful launch, Roquette Beauté has expanded its footprint, with a presence in Europe, North America and Asia. It has also already developed 20 new plant-based ingredients,” she says. 

“We must now go faster and aggressively with organic and inorganic growth. We are a young outsider with a lot of potential to be recognized as the expert in plant-based ingredients. We believe that the mega trends supporting sustainable plant-based products are to stay.”

The new milestone reinforces the company’s collaboration with its customers and partners, Courel adds. “It also addresses the increasing consumer demand for innovative, high performing and natural-based formulations.” 

Harnessing digital technology
As part of the “phygital” strategy, the company is combining physical assets and digital technologies. 

For example, the center is equipped with 360° laboratory cameras to allow formulator teams around the world to watch real-time creations with Beauté by Roquette ingredients. 

This was developed even before COVID-19 created more urgency in creating alternatives to face-to-face meetings. “We integrated the phytigal approach right at the beginning of the design of our new center. The digitalization allows us to remain very close to our customers and partners,” says Courel. 

Roquette hopes that these new premises will accelerate worldwide exchanges and innovation.

The facility also provides scientific teams and customers with collaborative spaces in a high-quality working environment. The center extends over 600 square meters and integrates state-of-the-art equipment and an application laboratory.

Additionally, there is a testing center with a dedicated area for sensorial analysis where lab results and prototypes can be evaluated by different panels of consumers. 

Other features include an auditorium for interactive and creative thinking, an R&D laboratory and offices for the Roquette Beauté staff.

Its strategic location is easily accessible for worldwide customers and partners. It is also “close to the heart of beauty’s heritage,” the company says.

“Working together in an inspiring and innovative space will enable us to meet the complex and versatile demands of consumers,” notes Courel.COVID-19 complexities have not thrown a wrench in Roquette’s plans for the Canadian pea protein facility. 

Protein facility on track
Roquette has also announced that COVID-19 complexities have not thrown a wrench in its plans for the Canadian pea protein facility. The company has invested nearly €400 million (US$463 million) in the factory. 

“Initially, we significantly invested in our plant in France, and now we are increasing our capacity in Canada for the entire North American and South American markets. There is promising potential in these areas,” Jean-Philippe Azoulay, vice president of the company’s pea and new proteins business line, tells FoodIngredientsFirst, NutritionInsights’ sister platform. 

He details that pea is a “very high-functioning, usable protein,” spotlighting opportunity in the medical and specialized nutrition sectors. 

Looking ahead, Roquette will be further developing a range of ingredients made from organic peas, which the company flags as a growing demand.

Earlier this week, a Nexira expert highlighted that organic and sustainable products are seeing major uplift in the nutraceuticals industry. 

Arla Foods Ingredients has also noted that organic protein opportunities are providing a way for companies to appeal to increasing demands for naturality.

Edited by Katherine Durrell