Nestlé officially inaugurates its AED 500 million manufacturing facility in TechnoPark

• World’s largest food and beverage company reinforces its commitment to the Middle East with a 515,000 sq ft facility that will serve Nestlé markets across the region

Marking a significant milestone in the company’s decades-long history in the region, Nestlé Middle East’s new AED 500 million (USD 136 million) manufacturing facility in Dubai TechnoPark was officially inaugurated today, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, by HH Sheikh Saeed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The inauguration was attended by Chief Executive Officer, Nestlé S.A. Paul Bulcke, along with Frits van Dijk, Vice President in charge of Zone Asia, Oceania, Africa and Middle East, and Yves Manghardt, Chairman and CEO, Nestlé Middle East.

Chief Executive Officer, Nestlé S.A. Paul Bulcke said: “Nestlé has been present in the Middle East for 75 years, bringing meaningful value to society at large by sourcing locally, creating new local employment, offering nutritious products and helping in the further development of the region. By opening our new facility in Dubai – our regional headquarters – we will be closer to our consumers in the region and can better adapt our products to their needs and preferences. The Middle East region is a very important part of the Nestlé business and our continued commitment and ongoing investments demonstrate our confidence in the region.”

Spread over an area of 1.02 million square feet, the new 515,000 square foot facility specializes in the manufacturing, canning and packaging of different Nestlé brands including Nido powder milk and Kit Kat chocolate and Nestlé Pure Life bottled water. With the Middle East identified as a region with tremendous growth potential for Nestlé, the company has made sufficient provision to expand the operations to meet growing market demands for the next few years. Currently, the facility employs 555 people.

“I am extremely proud that the first new Nestlé confectionery factory built in over a decade is here in Dubai. This factory will become the third largest Kit Kat plant worldwide and possesses state-of-the-art technology to make a world class product every hour of every day. With such a facility we will be able to meet the fast rising regional demand and eventually contemplate exporting to other regions. This investment shows the clear commitment of the Nestlé Group to the expansion of our activities here in the region,” said Yves Manghardt, Chairman and CEO of Nestlé Middle East FZE.

The new facility also houses Nestlé’s Regional Microbiological Laboratory, which began operations in early 2009. The state-of-the-art laboratory – which specializes in the analysis of salmonella, serving all Nestlé factories in the Middle East – is being used as a training facility for various government bodies in the UAE.

Further stepping up its R&D initiatives, Nestlé Middle East recently established an advanced Sensory Lab Unit for Renovation-innovation of Products in Al Quoz, Dubai. The lab is equipped with cutting-edge sensory technology and facilities, and serves as a center of expertise for sensory profiling analyses on shelf stable dairy products, coffee and confectionery.

Nestlé Middle East has invested more than USD 400 million in the region since its formal inception in 1997, owning and operating 17 factories and 37 offices, employing more than 7,000 people. These capital investments have contributed heavily to creating local jobs, enhancing technological and manufacturing capabilities, and fostering national economies around the region. In 2009, the Nestlé business in the region contributed approximately USD 1.4 billion to the Group’s turnover.