Puratos, a global leader in bakery, patisserie, and chocolate innovation, has opened a new Innovation Centre, the third in Canada, “a creative hub where inspiration meets expertise.”
The new 3,500-square-foot Montreal facility joins the first Canadian Innovation Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, and a second facility in Chilliwack, British Columbia. Adding an Innovation Centre in Montreal extends Puratos Canada’s capabilities geographically, and reaffirms its commitment to offering tailored baking solutions to more Canadian businesses and the unique Quebec market specifically, said the company.
Based in Belgium, Puratos operates more than 120 Innovation Centres in countries around the world. This enables Puratos to fulfill its mandate to support “customers on both a local and regional level.” Innovation Centres provide three key services: product development, category management, and product profiling. As such, they are able to help companies at every stage, including how to craft delicious and competitive products that consumers will love, setting realistic profitability targets and strategies to achieve them, and analyzing existing products to find opportunities for improvement, said the brand.
“Puratos believes that innovation thrives on collaboration. The new center will be a dynamic space where customers can engage directly with their experts, participate in workshops, and co-create new products. This hands-on approach ensures that the solutions developed are perfectly aligned with customer needs and expectations.”
Michael Simone, President (Canada)
Local, Quebec-based baking, chocolate, and patisserie businesses will have unprecedented access to cutting-edge technology and hands-on support, said the company.
The combination of Puratos’ international reach with a local focus means they will get exceptional development help from a team that understands regional preferences, it added.
Unique Facility Capabilities
“The Montreal Innovation Centre offers access by appointment, with meetings and demonstrations coordinated through two full-time Technical Advisors and three Key Account Managers, all equipped to support bilingual service with a focus on locally relevant recipe development. Additionally, customers can learn about the latest global, regional, and local consumer trends through exclusive insights from Puratos’ groundbreaking Taste Tomorrow program. The largest consumer research ecosystem in the industry worldwide, the program reveals the trends set to shape the future of taste, health, and sustainability. With this unique combination of hands-on innovation and real-time consumer intelligence, Puratos Canada is set to help customers stay ahead of the curve and bring tomorrow’s creations to life today,” explained the company.
“Exclusive to the Montreal facility in Canada are enhanced chocolate preparation capabilities, including a refrigerated marble table and a full-size laminator. The facility also houses two separate proofers for simultaneous retarding and proofing, and will soon add a 140qt Hobart mixer to support large-batch testing and formulation.”
Sustainability and Economic Impact
“Designed with energy efficiency in mind, the centre is fully powered by clean electricity, with no reliance on natural gas. All lighting and equipment are energy-efficient, contributing to lower operating costs and alignment with Puratos’ global sustainability goals,” added the company.
“The centre is expected to drive indirect employment growth by helping local food businesses scale more efficiently. A trickle-down effect on the local economy will further support this unique market within Canada. Already operational and serving local clients, an inaugural event was held on August 20th for local media, government representatives, and members of the Puratos team.
“The Montreal Innovation Centre connects local manufacturers with the latest global trends via Puratos’ Taste Tomorrow research, while enabling tailored product development to meet evolving consumer preferences—especially around health, sustainability, and functionality.
Puratos has operated since 1919.
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