Our Journey
1937
Pioneering Specialty Food Ingredients
Founded in the 1930s by Mr. Ong Boon Seng in Singapore, KH Roberts began as a trading company specialising in specialty food ingredients, including flavours and colours. As one of the early pioneers in the field, KH Roberts played a pivotal role in shaping the region’s specialty food ingredient industry.
With a focus on aromas and tastes, KH Roberts was officially established in 1968 as Keith Harris & Co (Far East) Pte Ltd by Mr. Ong Boon Seng and Australian flavour pioneer Mr. Ernest Keith Harris. In the same year, the company built Southeast Asia’s first dedicated food flavour manufacturing facilities in Singapore, producing both liquid and powder flavours.
1968
Founded In Singapore
1970
Building regional leadership in Asia
In the 1970s, KH Roberts expanded into regional markets such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines—marking its first step into the international flavour business and establishing itself as a growing regional multinational flavour house.
To meet growing demand, KH Roberts expanded its original 1968 facility in Singapore, tripling production capacity with new flavour manufacturing equipment and production lines.
1998
Expansion of Singapore Facility
2000
Leading the Way in Aroma Encapsulation
KH Roberts pioneered flavour innovation in Southeast Asia as the first regional flavour house to establish commercial spray-dried encapsulation facilities. Powered by our proprietary aroma encapsulation technology, Caproma® delivers high-impact, long-lasting flavours with exceptional stability and versatility—trusted across a wide range of food and beverage applications.
KH Roberts established a facility in Malaysia, integrating a commercial centre and distribution warehouse to better serve customers across the country.
2001
KH Roberts Malaysia
2002
KH Roberts Indonesia
KH Roberts expanded into Indonesia with a purpose-built flavour manufacturing and creation centre, enhancing local expertise and support for customers. KH Roberts expanded its expertise by acquiring advanced menthol refining technology, marking its entry into the purified menthol market. The company began supplying high-purity, triple-refined natural menthol crystals, setting new standards for quality and consistency.
KH Roberts expanded its expertise by acquiring advanced menthol refining technology, marking its entry into the purified menthol market. The company began supplying high-purity, triple-refined natural menthol crystals, setting new standards for quality and consistency.
2003
Advancing in Natural Extracts and Menthol Purification
2004
KH Roberts Thailand
KH Roberts established a facility in Thailand, integrating flavour production, a commercial centre, and a distribution warehouse to serve Thailand and the Indochina market.
In 2018, KH Roberts celebrated its 50th anniversary with the launch of a state-of-the-art, 100,000 sq ft facility, expanding its total flavour manufacturing footprint in the region to over 200,000 sq ft. This purpose-built facility seamlessly integrates research, innovation, flavour creation, and analytical capabilities, alongside production for liquid, powder, and encapsulated flavours. Featuring advanced automation, digitalization, and wet and dry pilot trial capabilities — a regional first — this expansion underscores KH Roberts’ ongoing commitment to redefining flavours through innovation.
2018
50 Years and Beyond
2018
Unlocking New Possibilities Through Strategic Collaboration
KH Roberts welcomed Mitsui & Co., Ltd. as a strategic partner and investor, strengthening our foundation for continued growth, innovation, and global expansion. As we continue to push the boundaries of flavour delivery, Caproma® Granules expand the possibilities of the Caproma® range. Engineered for texture-sensitive applications, these granules offer the same high-impact flavour and stability in a format that enhances mixability, handling, and shelf life.
As we continue to push the boundaries of flavour delivery, Caproma® Granules expand the possibilities of the Caproma® range. Engineered for texture-sensitive applications, these granules offer the same high-impact flavour and stability in a format that enhances mixability, handling, and shelf life.
2025
A New Era of Flavour Delivery Through Encapsulation Innovation
Tasting Ahead
Redefining the Flavours of Tomorrow — Driven by Innovation, Inspired by Possibility
At KH Roberts, we are not just crafting flavours — we are shaping the future of taste. By combining science, creativity, and deep market insight, we are redefining the flavours of tomorrow to meet evolving consumer desires. From plant-based innovations to clean-label excellence, our solutions empower brands to lead with flavour that excites, inspires, and endures.
Read more about our latest news and happenings.
Staying Connected
What’s next?
Flavours that Stand the Test of Time
For more than half a century, our team has created high performance flavours that have stood the test of time. How do we do it?
A Strong Foundation
It begins with a strong understanding and foundation of flavour science that dates back to the 1960s. Our extensive network around the region, speed to market, swift responsiveness to market trends gives us a deep understanding of what our consumers want.
Industry Best Practices
We benchmark industry leading and best practices in flavour creation, production and quality assurance. We use industry proven training methodology for flavourists and flavour technologists, ensuring all flavour creations add value to our customers.
Innovative Collaborations
A Culture of Innovation
Specialised Capabilities & Reaction Expertise
