Danone looks set to build a R&D facility for its baby-food business in the Netherlands after agreeing to buy land in the Dutch city of Utrecht.

The French food giant, which owns the Cow & Gate brand, is planning to house the site on Utrecht Science Park, real-estate developers OVG has said.

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Danone had failed to return a request for comment as just-food went to press but a statement from OVG said the centre, which would also focus on medical nutrition, would open in 2012.

The developers said Danone planned to group its R&D activities in the Netherlands, Germany and the UK at the Utrecht site.

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