Nestlé has opened a newly extended Product Technology Centre (PTC) for confectionery in the city of York, UK, strengthening its global research and development network.
This investment will enable the company to accelerate confectionery development for the UK and the rest of its global business.
As a part of the expansion project, the company has expanded the pilot plant in the PTC, where new technologies are developed and tested before they are used in its plants around the world.
Nestlé has also extended the PTC's sensory testing facility, where groups of confectionery tasters evaluate prototypes and finished products on the basis of several factors such as smell, bitterness or sweetness, and taste preference.
PTC York director Stefan Palzer said the expansion will allow the company to strengthen product and packaging prototyping using sustainable and high quality raw materials, innovative manufacturing processes and reliable and efficient equipment.
"It means we will be able to develop ideas more rapidly from the initial concept to the finished product you see for a sale on a shelf," Palzer added.
York PTC features teams of technologists, scientists, engineers, food chemists, confectioners, nutritionists and other experts. The teams work on developing breakthrough technologies for chocolate, wafer and fruit-based confectionery, and chocolate ingredients and coatings for ice cream products.
Nestlé's PTC in York, which employs about 185 people, is located on the same site as its confectionery factory that produces brands including Kit Kat, Aero, and Milky Bar.