In an exclusive interview with Mediworld Middle East, Nilesh Korgoankar, CEO of Emphor DLAS, and Gavin Fisher, VP Chromatography at PerkinElmer, discussed their shared vision for enhancing food safety, quality, and laboratory efficiency in the Middle East.
As Centena Group’s life, analytical, and material testing solutions division, Emphor DLAS equips laboratories and industries with advanced tools spanning chromatography, mass spectrometry, spectroscopy, and particle analysis.
Through its partnership with PerkinElmer, the company has introduced the GC 2400™ Gas Chromatography System and QSight® LC-MS/MS, enabling faster, more accurate testing and regulatory compliance.
These future-ready solutions allow manufacturers to detect contaminants, verify authenticity, and optimize workflows, contributing to a safer, healthier, and more traceable food ecosystem.
Nilesh Korgoankar, CEO, Emphor DLAS
Please give us a brief overview of Emphor DLAS and its core mission.
As the life, analytical, and material testing solutions division of Centena Group, Emphor DLAS is dedicated to fostering innovation and diversity. We provide premium laboratory analytical and material testing solutions, driven by a vision to enhance research, quality control, and material identification through expert technical knowledge and dependable support.
Beyond being a supplier, Emphor DLAS serves as a trusted growth partner for laboratories, research institutes, and industrial organizations across the region. We empower clients with the tools, resources, and guidance needed to achieve scientific breakthroughs, solve complex challenges, and promote safer, healthier outcomes for society.
Our solutions, sourced from leading global OEM technology partners, cover end-to-end laboratory needs, including gas and liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, spectroscopy, particle size analysis, titration, and density and viscosity measurement. We support industries such as manufacturing, food and beverage, aviation, cosmetics, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, plastics, and environmental management, enhancing their efficiency and safety. Each of our diverse solutions contributes to a safer, healthier, and more sustainable world.
What trends are driving the Middle East region’s growing demand for reliable food safety and quality solutions?
The region’s processed and packaged food market is increasingly shaped by rising consumer awareness of health, convenience, and sustainability. Economic growth, changing lifestyle preferences, and higher disposable incomes are further driving demand for premium, safe, and high-quality products. Additionally, the growing use of GLP-1 weight-loss medications, wearables, health apps, and generative AI for personalized meal planning and fitness reflects a heightened focus on tech-driven wellness and tailored nutrition.
The global pandemic has also redefined food safety testing standards, with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) endorsing numerous commercially recognized food safety laboratories. In response, regional governments are implementing robust food safety standards and regulations, including HACCP and ISO certifications, accelerating the adoption of advanced food safety technologies. Consequently, the number of food safety testing laboratories across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region is rising, driven by growing demand for sophisticated testing solutions.
A recent survey indicates that 53 percent of consumers in the Middle East purchase prepared foods or order takeaway at least once a week, compared with over 30 percent globally, while 40 percent dine out at restaurants at least three times a week, above the global average of 25 percent. Around 67 percent of consumers express concern over ultra-processed foods and pesticide use. These trends are expected to drive the MEA food safety testing market at a CAGR of 5.62 percent from 2025 to 2030, supporting laboratories in meeting evolving consumer and regulatory demands.
How does Emphor DLAS, together with PerkinElmer, address the region’s food testing challenges?
At Emphor DLAS, we view food safety as a critical means to protect lives, not merely a regulatory obligation. In alignment with this philosophy, we collaborate closely with PerkinElmer to accelerate scientific outcomes across global markets. Previously, many laboratories in the region had to send samples abroad for advanced testing, causing delays that hindered rapid recalls and interventions. Traditional systems relied on manual processes, which struggled to keep pace with increasing food production volumes.
Testing complex food products, such as fatty or multi-component items, often led to errors and repeated analyses. Rapidly evolving HACCP, ISO, and national food safety standards further challenged labs using outdated equipment. In response, our advanced solutions for the food and beverage sector ensure safety, quality, and compliance throughout production.
Our cutting-edge testing and monitoring technologies now enable leading manufacturers to meet stringent regulations while optimizing workflow efficiency. As the exclusive distributor of PerkinElmer in the UAE and Qatar, we have introduced two transformative solutions: the GC 2400™ Gas Chromatography System and the QSight® LC-MS/MS System. The GC 2400™ enhances lab productivity with a detachable touchscreen and smart sampling, while the QSight 400 Triple Quad LC/MS/MS delivers exceptional sensitivity and throughput. Both systems simplify operation, meet regulatory demands, and minimize downtime, empowering regional laboratories to detect contaminants, verify nutritional content, and ensure compliance with precision and speed.
Why are advanced science and material testing critical for today’s global food supply chains?
Food supply chains have grown longer, faster, and more complex, increasing the risk of contamination, fraud, and quality lapses from farm to supermarket. Advanced scientific and material testing tools are essential in addressing these risks. Technologies such as chromatography, mass spectrometry, and spectroscopy allow detection of contaminants at trace levels, verification of authenticity, and compliance with strict international standards. Without these tools, hazards may go unnoticed until they reach consumers, causing public health issues and eroding trust. Material testing also ensures that packaging, equipment, and contact materials are safe, non-reactive, and compliant. These measures protect food, uphold supply chain integrity, and provide assurance to manufacturers, regulators, and consumers about safety and quality.
Can you explain how your solutions ensure end-to-end food quality, safety and compliance?
Emphor DLAS equips laboratories with the technology and expertise needed to safeguard the entire food supply chain. Our integrated solutions enable food testing facilities to deliver certified results with speed, accuracy, and confidence. We offer specialized solutions for diverse sectors, including life sciences, water analysis, and industrial applications, providing end-to-end support—from installation and calibration to maintenance and training—ensuring optimal performance and maximum reliability of analytical instruments.
How do rapid detection technologies and your solutions improve food safety and supply chain traceability?
Food sector operations are highly time sensitive, necessitating the use of rapid detection technologies. Even a short delay might push contaminated food further along the supply chain, putting public health and consumer trust at risk. Our solutions enable laboratories to detect pathogens, chemical residues and allergens quickly and accurately, preventing unsafe food from ever reaching store shelves or consumers’ tables. Moreover, our solutions integrate sample tracking, automated data capture and audit-ready reporting, creating a digital trail, right from raw materials to finished products. All of the tests and other interventions are documented, ensuring compliance with ISO, HACCP and regional regulations, while garnering confidence from manufacturers and consumers in the food they produce or consume.
Gavin Fisher, VP Chromatography PerkinElmer
What makes your food testing solutions “future-ready” for evolving industry needs?
At PerkinElmer, we design our food testing solutions with future needs in mind as the food industry continues to evolve. Our instruments, such as the GC 2400™ Gas Chromatography System and QSight® LC-MS/MS, are designed to address these challenges with flexibility, high throughput and exceptional sensitivity. In addition to world-class hardware, our solutions are also integrated with laboratory information management systems and analytical tools, offering real-time insights and predictive capabilities.
For example, during a recent visit to the UAE, our team noticed a surge in demand for honey, a product that could be prone to adulteration and quality concerns. With our future-ready solutions, laboratories can rapidly test contaminants, verify authenticity, and ensure compliance, helping manufacturers meet consumer expectations and regulatory requirements. Similarly, other high-value products in the region, such as dates and saffron, can benefit from these predictive and precise testing capabilities.
We ensure that laboratories are equipped to meet the current needs, while anticipating future requirements. Ultimately, our goal is to empower laboratories to maintain the highest standards of food safety, quality and compliance, in the present and the future.
How can food manufacturers use your solutions to meet strict regulations, and what advice would you give for implementing strong food safety and quality practices?
Presently, food manufacturers are under immense pressure due to rapidly changing global and regional regulations, evolving consumer expectations, and increasing scrutiny from regulatory authorities. Alongside these challenges, manufacturers are also dealing with complex supply chains, emerging contaminants, and the demand for faster product releases without compromising safety. Recognizing this, we offer advanced technologies and integrated workflows for labs, enabling manufacturers to fulfil even the most stringent regulatory requirements. For instance, our solutions like GC 2400™ Gas Chromatography System and QSight® LC-MS/MS, facilitate precise detection of contaminants, allergens and chemical residues, while delivering fast and reliable results. Moreover, to ensure robust food safety, it is imperative for companies to integrate laboratory testing into their production process so that quality checks happen at every critical point.
What are your key goals for expanding in the Middle East food testing market?
Through our partnership with Emphor DLAS, our distributor in the UAE and Qatar, we have gained extensive footprint in the Middle East region. We further aim to offer seamless access to our advanced analytical technologies, including the GC 2400™ Gas Chromatography System and QSight® LC-MS/MS, across the region, enabling labs to detect contaminants faster, improve throughput and maintain the highest standards of compliance. Events like ARABLAB serve as ideal platforms to showcase our innovative solutions to industry players and become a part of their growth journeys, while enhancing food safety standards across the Middle East region.
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