Mondelēz International has celebrated the opening of its new Global Research & Development (R&D) Innovation Center in Whippany, New Jersey, USA.
The state-of-the-art facility, which is supported by an investment of nearly $50 million, includes pilot and scale-up capability for cookies, crackers and candy. The Innovation Center provides new capabilities and technologies that propel R&D for consumer-loved snacks, including OREO cookies, Ritz crackers and Sour Patch Kids candies.
The event and ribbon cutting ceremony marked the culmination of a multi-year effort by Mondelēz and was attended by local employees, company leadership, federal, state and local elected officials and other honored guests. As part of the day’s festivities, employees marked this important milestone with a milk and OREO cookie celebratory toast, a tree planting ceremony led by the site’s Green Team focused on sustainability, and a commemorative beam signing at the site.
“This strategic investment in our new Global Innovation Center will enable us to pilot exciting new snacking breakthroughs and bring about the next generation of innovation for Mondelēz snacks around the world,” said Daniel Ramos, Executive Vice President and Chief Research & Development Officer at Mondelēz International. “We’re proud to bring together industry-leading talent and capabilities in this facility to create new products, packaging and process developments across our portfolio of beloved snacks.”
“Our Research & Development team at Mondelēz International is passionate about the important work we do to pioneer innovations, improve production processes and create consumer-favorite products for people to enjoy both here in the United States and in global markets,” added Norberto Chaclin, Global Senior Vice President, R&D Biscuits and Baked Snacks at Mondelēz International. “With this new Center now open, our team is well-positioned to set the standard for future snacking innovations around the world from right here in New Jersey.”
More than 50 talented R&D makers and bakers who support the Mondelēz business in North America and around the world will work at the new Global Innovation Center, from which they will partner closely with teams in North America, as well as teams across Mondelēz businesses and R&D facilities around the globe. Among the many innovations planned, the Whippany team will play an important role in supporting innovation on electric baking technology which supports the company’s 2050 goal of net zero carbon emissions across its value chain.
Did you know?
Mondelēz International’s net revenue in 2022 was approximately US$31 billion.
