Industry & Business

Nestlé has opened its first Research and Development Centre in Ireland at its existing manufacturing facility at Askeaton in County Limerick, marking the completion of a three-year building programme with a capital investment of €27 million. The new R&D centre will focus on scientific research to support innovations in the development of milk-based maternal and infant nutrition products for the global market. The Centre was formally opened by Micheal Creed, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine; and Thomas Hauser, Head of Global Product and Technology Development for Nestlé S.A.

Over 40 research staff are employed at the R&D Centre, which is co-located with Nestlé’s Wyeth Nutrition manufacturing plant. Wyeth Nutrition Ireland produces a range of premium milk powder products for infants, young children and mothers for export to world markets.

Thomas Hauser, Head of Global Product and Technology Development for Nestlé SA, said at the opening event: “Our Irish R&D Centre will benefit from Nestlé’s global R&D network and help to position Nestlé at the fore of infant and maternal nutritional product development, one of Nestlé’s most important growth drivers. With this new centre, we will increase the pace of our innovation capacity by enabling our scientists to explore innovative nutritional solutions for the crucial first 1,000 days of life.”

The R&D Centre will concentrate on developing premium, science-based products for mothers and infants. It incorporates state-of-the-art laboratory facilities as well as a full pilot-scale manufacturing line to facilitate the development, and testing of new products from initial concept through to product deployment. The project investment was supported by Enterprise Ireland.

Michael Creed, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, added: “This is a strategically important investment for Ireland by the world’s largest food and beverage company. We are honoured to have a world leading research facility that provides a cutting-edge scientific base to develop new products that will bring health benefits to infants, children and mothers worldwide. Nestlé’s decision to invest and open this centre further places Ireland internationally as a location that offers quality raw dairy materials combined with a highly educated and skilled workforce. It is a major signal of confidence in the future and quality of the Irish dairy industry.”

Dan O’Callaghan, Head of the new R&D Centre, stated: “Between our pilot plant and laboratories, we have installed state-of-the-art food processing equipment and analytical instruments. We will also complement our in-house activities through collaborative research programmes with Irish universities and with Teagasc – the Agriculture and Food Development Authority. This will enable our cross-functional team of research scientists to develop the next wave of innovative nutritional products to meet the demands of future generations.”

Orla Battersby, Head of the Food Division, Enterprise Ireland, said; “Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting companies like Nestle to increase their level of innovation, improve their competitiveness and expand their global footprint, with the ultimate goal of delivering export growth for Ireland. Enterprise Ireland is also responsible for attracting Foreign Direct Investment from the global food industry into Ireland and the opening of this new showcase plant reflects highly on the entire Irish dairy sector – pooling together innovation with best-in-class facilities.”

Nestlé has the world’s largest private food and nutrition research organization with around 30 R&D Centres and over 5,000 people worldwide. With nutrition at its core, Nestlé R&D is committed to make the Nestlé portfolio even tastier and healthier, to fulfil its purpose of enhancing quality of life of people and contributing to a healthier future. In 2017, Nestlé invested about €1.3 billion (SFr1.7 billion) in R&D.

Nestlé has over 70 brands across seven categories in the Irish market – beverage, confectionery, cereals, food, pet care, dairy and infant nutrition. Its iconic brands include NESCAFÉ®, KIT KAT®, ROWNTREE’S®, CHEERIOS®, MAGGI®, SMA® as well as BAKERS® and FELIX® pet food. Nestlé’s operates a manufacturing site at Askeaton, County Limerick. Nestlé employs over 750 people in Ireland.

CAPTION:

Pictured (left to right): Thomas Hauser, Head of Global Product and Technology Development for Nestlé; Orla Battersby, Head of the Food Division, Enterprise Ireland; Michael Creed, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine; and Dan O’Callaghan, Head of the new Nestlé R&D Centre.