WROCLAW, POLAND: Mondelez International said it has invested an additional $5 million in its global technical center in Wroclaw to expand research and development of gum and candy innovation.
The company opened the facility in 2017 with an initial investment of $17 million to support chocolate and bakery innovation. The site will serve as a R.&D. hub for a range of global and local brands in biscuits (Oreo, belVita), chocolate (Milka, Cadbury Dairy Milk, Toblerone) and gum and candy (Trident, Hollywood, Stimorol and Dirol).
The expansion is part of a previously announced $65 million investment in Mondelez International’s global network of research, development and quality hubs. In addition to Wroclaw, the company has 10 other technical centers in East Hanover, N.J.; Curitiba, Brazil; Bournville and Reading in the United Kingdom; Thane, India; Singapore and Suzhou, China; Saclay, France; and Munich, Germany.
“Our mission at Mondelez 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,” said Rob Hargrove, executive vice-president, Research, Development and Quality. “Poland is one of our most important markets in Central Europe, with an impressive manufacturing network, and Wroclaw is a modern city that’s open to investments. Embedding one of our largest technical centers here clearly signals the importance of Poland and Europe within our global R. and D. network. It is also home to leading technical universities and top-notch specialists. Now, with the exciting extension to gum and candy, we are creating approximately 50 new jobs here.”
The Wroclaw center houses more than 200 scientists, engineers and other specialists. The site includes a pilot plant for chocolate and biscuits, a new dedicated pilot plant for gum and candy, and analytical and sensory labs.
“The Wroclaw technical center is unique not only for its diverse and talented scientists and engineers but also for its fluency across chocolate, biscuits and gum and candy technologies,” said Kevin Powell, vice-president, Research, Development and Quality, Biscuits and Gum and Candy. “With this new investment, we will be able to surprise and delight our consumers and shoppers with exciting new combinations of technologies, formats, fillings and much more.”
