Nestlé opens new R&D centre for maternal and infant nutrition

Nestlé has opened a research and development centre for maternal and infant nutrition in Limerick, Ireland.
The opening marks the completion of a three three-year construction program with an investment of €27 million (~CDN $40.9 million).
The new R&D centre will focus on scientific research to support innovation in milk-based maternal and infant nutrition products for the global market. This will help provide nutritional solutions for the crucial first 1,000 days of life.
More than 40 research staff work at the centre, which is located together 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.
The centre 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. This will help increase the pace of innovation in the category, which is one of Nestlé’s most important growth drivers.
Dan O’Callaghan, head of the new R&D Centre, speaking at the opening event 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.”
Nestlé has the world’s largest private food and nutrition research organization with around 30 R&D Centres and over 5,000 people worldwide.
More company information available at www.nestle.com.