Nestlé to open new R&D centre

The research arm of the Nestle Group has said that in 2003 it will open its global culinary development and technology centre in Singen, Southern Germany.

The move will result in a more efficient buildup, transfer and application of knowledge and technology for culinary products worldwide within the Nestlé Group.

The initiative will bring R&D personnel, currently based at the Product Technology Centre Kemptthal, Switzerland and the Research and Development Centre Weiding, Bavaria, onto the same site.

The location of the new Product Technology Centre in Singen represents the most efficient solution for Nestlé. Germany is the Group's most important dehydrated culinary market as well as a key exporter to other European markets, and Nestle claims there will be significant benefits gained from having the PTC unit and the Singen factory Application Group in close proximity to each other.

The new unit, called Nestle Product Technology Centre Singen, will focus on culinary products, both dry and wet, as well as baby food. Chilled dessert product development presently in Weiding is to be transferred to Nestle's Product Technology Centre in Lisieux (France).

The existing Product Technology building in Kemptthal will be sold to Givaudan, the Swiss-based flavours and fragrance company, which has already purchased the Kemptthal factory. The Weiding R&D premises will remain property of Nestlé Germany.

Approximately 200 people will be impacted by this decision, with a number of employees to be reassigned to other areas of Nestle operations. The final staffing of the new Product Technology Centre will be determined following discussions, which will occur in the coming weeks.

The move is aimed at improving Nestle's product research and development cycle in the culinary area.