Future50 member Omega Ingredients is an innovative flavour and fragrance solutions company based at Great Blakenham, near Ipswich.

Company founder Steve Pearce has spent most of his working life in the sector, initially with some major multinationals, and Omega is his second independent venture, the first having been sold to venture capital investors.

Omega specialises in natural ingredients, including its own alternative to sugar which is marketed as OmegaSweet and is proving a particular success among drinks manufacturers.

Besides extensive laboratory facilities and a 'flavours library', Omega has a creation and innovation suite where customers can work alongside its team in developing bespoke products.

Its operations also still include an area dedicated to small batch production although the manufacturing of larger volume products is now outsourced.