Brussels, 30 September 2026 — The International Taste Institute (ITI) and Scala Investments announce a partnership. Scala Investments joins the share capital of the Brussels-based institute alongside owners Eric de Spoelberch and Laurent van Wassenhove, to support the next phase of ITI's international growth in expert-based taste evaluation and certification.
Established in Brussels in 2004, ITI evaluates food and beverage products through blind sensory analysis carried out by an independent jury of more than 250 chefs and sommeliers from over 20 countries, among them chefs with Michelin-star experience and award-winning sommeliers. ITI operates three testing hubs, in Brussels, Dubai, and Hong Kong supported by sample collection points in key markets, and works with food and beverage producers and retailers worldwide. Eric de Spoelberch and Laurent van Wassenhove acquired ITI in 2018 from its retiring shareholders. Drawing on their backgrounds in sales, marketing, business management and international operations, they accelerated the company's growth while further professionalising the organisation, building a market leader. Both remain significant shareholders and members of the board, and stay operationally involved during a phased transition. With Scala Investments on board, ITI intends to build on those foundations through further geographic expansion and brand building. The independence of the jury and the rigour of the evaluation methodology remain unchanged.
Eric de Spoelberch and Laurent van Wassenhove (https://www.taste-institute.com/): “Our journey began in 2018, when we left our corporate careers to acquire a company with strong potential. We are proud of what this team has built since, and our thanks go to our jury, our clients and our people for their trust. With Scala alongside us, ITI can take its next step, and we will be there to help make it happen.”
Pieter-Jan Meylemans (https://www.scala-investments.com/): “ITI has built something highly convincing: a certification whose value rests on the independence of its jury and the rigour of its method. The ITI brand is well-known for this in the market. That is an exceptional foundation to build on. We are grateful that Eric and Laurent have placed their trust in our investment team to take this next step together.”
Scala Investments was founded in early 2024 by Wim Conjaerts and Pieter-Jan Meylemans. Scala Investments aims to be a partner for Belgian SMEs seeking to move into their next growth phase, often in combination with a transition in leadership and shareholding. With a proactive and focused approach, Scala Investments contributes actively to value creation in the companies it backs.