dsm-firmenich has inaugurated its Van Marken Food Innovation Center in Delft, the Netherlands, establishing a new hub for global food innovation and sustainability. Serving as headquarters for its €3 billion Taste, Texture & Health business unit, the facility features state-of-the-art labs, tasting rooms, and co-creation spaces to advance plant-based alternatives, sugar reduction, and nutritional improvements. With WELL Platinum and BREEAM Outstanding certifications, the center reflects the company’s commitment to sustainability and wellbeing, while employing over 400 staff on the Biotech Campus Delft. Named after entrepreneur Jacques van Marken, the center honors Delft’s 155-year history of food and biotech innovation. Local leaders praised the investment as a driver of economic growth and a magnet for talent, reinforcing both regional and national competitiveness.
dsm-firmenich has officially opened its Van Marken Food Innovation Center in Delft, the Netherlands, marking a major step in its global ambition to transform food systems and accelerate the shift toward healthier, more sustainable diets. The new facility will serve as the headquarters for the company’s Taste, Texture & Health business unit, a division generating more than €3 billion annually, and will host advanced facilities for dairy, bakery, and brewery innovation.
The state-of-the-art center houses application laboratories, tasting spaces, and a modern co-creation kitchen designed to help customers develop solutions ranging from plant-based alternatives to sugar-reduced foods and improved taste and nutrition experiences. With more than 400 employees on-site, the Van Marken Food Innovation Center is positioned as a central hub for collaboration and knowledge-sharing in food innovation.
Sustainability has been placed at the heart of the new building. It is certified to the highest international standards of WELL Platinum and BREEAM Outstanding, ensuring that the facility supports both employee wellbeing and environmental stewardship. The center reinforces dsm-firmenich’s long-term commitment to the Biotech Campus Delft, joining other major recent Dutch investments such as its new Maastricht headquarters.
Patrick Niels, President of Taste, Texture & Health at dsm-firmenich, stated: “The Van Marken Food 
Innovation Center is more than just a building – it is a symbol of our belief that the future of food is already here, being built together with our customers. By bringing science, innovation, and sustainability together, we are shaping the next generation of food and beverage solutions while honoring our rich heritage in Delft.”
The inauguration also drew praise from regional leaders. Wouter Kolff, the King’s Commissioner in the Province of South-Holland, commented: “This center is a vital asset for Zuid-Holland, reinforcing the region’s knowledge ecosystem and stimulating economic growth. dsm-firmenich is a key employer and attracts talent that strengthens the province, Delft, and the Netherlands.”
The center is named in honor of Jacques van Marken, the pioneering Delft entrepreneur who founded the Yeast and Spirits Factory, later Gist-Brocades, acquired by DSM in 1998. A social reformer and business visionary, van Marken laid the foundations for a holistic and progressive approach to industry—principles that continue to inspire dsm-firmenich’s work today.
Building on a legacy in Delft that dates back to 1869, dsm-firmenich has consistently advanced food innovations that improve daily life. These include natural antifungal preservatives, enzymes for lactose-free dairy, and solutions for sugar and salt reduction—breakthroughs that remain central to the company’s mission of delivering sustainable, nutritious, and enjoyable food and beverages worldwide.
