Nestlé has opened two new factories in China as it continues to grow its business in the country by investing in its portfolio of local and global brands.
The company's Chief Executive Officer Paul Bulcke attended events in China this week to mark the opening of a CHF 133 million Nescafé coffee factory in Shandong Province, followed by a CHF 319 million Yinlu Foods factory in Anhui Province.
More than 2,000 new jobs have been created with the opening of the Yinlu Foods factory, built through Nestlé's partnership with China's leading producer of ready-to-drink peanut milk and ready-to-eat rice congee.
Yinlu products, which also include ready-to-eat red bean congee and ready-to-eat oat congee, are tailored to Chinese consumers' taste and preferences. They complement Nestlé's existing product range in China, which includes culinary, coffee, confectionery, bottled water, milk powder and products for the foodservice industry.
"An important building block of our business in China is our partnerships with Chinese companies," said Mr Bulcke.
"These partnerships combine local knowledge and entrepreneurship with our global research and development capabilities, and product innovation and renovation expertise."
In the city of Laixi, Shandong Province, the company's new Nescafé factory is the largest and most advanced coffee factory of its kind in China. Products made here will help to meet consumer demand across the country.
"The expansion of our manufacturing facilities in China is a clear demonstration of our continued confidence in the Chinese market, and our commitment to the country and its consumers," Mr Bulcke added.