FDBusiness.com

Nestle will invest more than SFr98 million (Eur83 million) in Thailand to increase manufacturing of its products including coffee and ice cream. The two year investment will support the expansion of the company’s existing factories in Thailand, as well as the construction of a new Nestle Quality Assurance Centre.

The plans aim to meet the growing demand for Nestle products in the country and the surrounding region.

Paul Bulcke (pictured), chief executive of Nestle, comments: “The sophistication of  Thai consumers, and their increasing focus on higher quality products with greater health and nutritional benefits, is giving Nestle an increasing competitive advantage in Thailand. Thailand has a very important role to play in both our Asian and our global strategy, as the country also looks after Nestle’s business in the region.”

In 2010, Nestle’s business in Thailand grew by more than 10% through a combination of domestic sales and the export of Thai-produced products to more than 44 countries around the world.

In 2009, Nestle announced major investments in two significant manufacturing projects in Thailand, taking its overall capital investment in the country at that time to SFr56 million. The investments supported the construction of a new Nestle Purina pet food factory and the expansion of the company’s existing factory in Navanakorn, which produces milk and coffee products.