First Pernod Ricard research award goes to young researcher Aline Robert-Hazotte

The first Pernod Ricard Research Award has been attributed on 31 May 2016 to a young searcher, Aline Robert-Hazotte. It is a recognition for her outstanding research on 'The influence of odorant compounds' metabolism on humans' olfactory perception', as part of her PhD studies at the Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation (Centre for taste and feeding behaviour), which is partnered by the CNRS (French National Centre for Scientific Research), the INRA (French National Institute for Agricultural Research) and the University of Burgundy, Dijon, France.

This Research Award, worth '10,000, will help its young winner to carry out her work, supervised by Professors Jean-Marie Heydel and Philippe Faure in the laboratory of Professor Luc Penicaud of the Centre for taste and feeding behaviour. Her innovative work, which is unique in the world, will improve our understanding of how the olfactory system works and the interactions between smells that affect perception.

At the award ceremony, which took place at the Pernod Ricard Headquarters in Paris, Conor McQuaid, Global Business Director, reiterated the Group's strategy of backing innovation as a growth and value accelerator for its brands: 'Innovation plays a major strategic role in the Group's growth. Today our objectives are clear: to enrich and foster innovative development, accelerate the emergence of futuristic and ambitious projects and, finally, make our Group the uncontested leader in design and innovation".

For Franck Pierre, Director of the Pernod Ricard Research Centre, the award is perfectly in line with this ambition, this award being one of many initiatives launched to strengthen the company's science network:  'By rewarding young researchers working in the Group's areas of interest, we are strengthening our collaboration with the world of science and technology, as well as our links with experts who have a reputation for excellence. The high quality and large number of interactions happening within our innovation ecosystem, extended to carefully-selected external partners, are essential to achieving our goals."