Mondelēz opens $15m research and development facility in India

Mondelēz International has inaugurated a new research and development centre in Thane, India, following an investment of $15 million.

The facility will support new products and technologies for the company’s global brands in the chocolate and beverage segments, as well focus on improving consumer science, packaging and productivity.

With an area of 12,000 square meters, the Thane technical centre is equipped with a pilot plant, a packaging creative studio and a range of laboratories for technical research and development.

A team of around 150 scientists, developers, engineers, analytical chemists and other specialists will closely collaborate on innovations across the globe.

The India hub joins nine other Mondelēz International technical centres that are already in operation around the world: New Jersey, US; Curitiba, Brazil; Bournville and Reading, UK; Wrocław, Poland; Singapore; Suzhou, China; Saclay, France; and Munich, Germany. 

This is part of the company’s strategy to invest $65 million in developing a global network of technical hubs strategically positioned around the world to support a growth-oriented innovation agenda. 

Maurizio Brusadelli, Mondelēz president of Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (AMEA), said: “Our mission at Mondelēz International is simple – to offer consumers the right snack, for the right moment, made the right way. And our global Technical Center network is crucial to support this.

“Our AMEA region hosts three global technical centres – the other two being in China and Singapore – demonstrating that our dynamic markets are at the heart of the company’s growth strategy. Our investment in the Thane technical centre further emphasises the importance of India to our global business.”

Rob Hargrove, Mondelēz executive vice president of research, development and quality, added: “With these technical centres, we’re focusing our investment in research, equipment and capabilities, driving innovation to accelerate our growth.

“Our RDQ hubs will improve speed, efficiency and effectiveness, while increased scale will enable us to address evolving consumer needs more quickly. We are delighted that one of our global technical centres is based in India, which has one of the best technical and scientific capabilities in the world.”

The inauguration comes the same week as Mondelēz launched an ‘innovation hub’ programme called SnackFutures, which aims to capitalise on emerging growth opportunities in the snacking segment.