Mondelez International has unveiled plans to invest US$65m in establishing a global network of research, development and quality (RDQ) “hubs”.
When complete, the redesigned network will consist of a combination of new and existing technical centres that will be more “flexible and agile” in responding to the company’s growth and innovation needs, the maker of brands including Cadbury and Oreos said.
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Mondelez added that the investment will help in its efforts to “recruit, retain and develop” talent while also creating a “stronger presence” in developed and emerging markets.
“With these advantaged technical centres, we’re focusing our investment in research, equipment and capabilities to drive innovation to support our growth strategy and innovation, margin and quality platforms,” said Rob Hargrove, executive vice president, RDQ. “These hubs will enable improved efficiency, effectiveness and accelerated project delivery, while the increased scale across key markets will provide rapid access to changing consumer needs and trends.”
Over the next two years, the company will focus its RDQ network at nine locations. Theye are in: Mexico City, Mexico; East Hanover, US; Bournville, UK; Reading, UK; Wroclaw, Poland; Thane, India; Suzhou, China; Jurong, Singapore; and Curitiba, Brazil.
Three of the centres – East Hanover, Bournville and Reading – are already in full operation. The company will break ground on the Singapore facility in November 2016 and the Thane facility in December 2016 with the new Wroclaw building opening in 2017. The remainder of the redesigned network will open through 2018.
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