Synergy Flavors Inc. moves into new Wauconda location

Synergy Flavors Inc. in Wauconda will make the move down the street to its new 145,000-square-foot expanded facility later this week.

Plans have been under way awhile to expand Synergy, an international food and beverage flavor company, to accommodate the growing business.

Synergy CEO Rod Sowders said that since the company bought additional artificial flavoring companies' Sethness Greenleaf and Sensus last year, they needed a larger space.

“It's accommodating our growth,” he said. “We added a lot of positions, and a big part of it is development.”

The new facility, located at 1260 Henri Drive, will include a demonstration kitchen, flavor and applications development labs and sensory testing labs.

Sowders said the additional space will allow customers to work with a product development team, where they can taste-test the products.

“A big part of it is for development in-house with customers, to get them into a space that works for them and us,” Sowders said.

Local officials were able to get a sneak peek of the facility two weeks ago with a private tour guided by Sowders.

Mayor Mark Knigge, who attended the tour, said the expanded facility is one of the biggest acquisitions the village has seen.

“It's just a huge positive investment in the future of Wauconda,” he said. “The facility is a magnificent investment.”

Linda Krajniak, director of economic and community development, who also went on the tour, said she was surprised to find out how many food products require additional flavoring.

“It was really interesting — you know, even bread needs flavoring to make it more tasty,” she said.

Officials think the new facility will help boost the village's economic growth by increasing foot traffic and job opportunities.

Synergy employs more than 100 people, but with the acquired businesses, Sowders expects to add up to 40 jobs by the end of 2013.

By the end of the year, Synergy will consolidate Sethness, a Chicago-based production facility, into the new location in Wauconda.

“There's a lot of pieces and parts that we're undertaking,” Sowders said. “We're excited to make the move.”