As it marks the 40th anniversary of its research and development (R&D) facilities in Singapore, Nestlé said it will continue playing a key role in developing innovative products and technologies, including more sustainable packaging, for Southeast Asia and beyond for both its retail and out-of-home business.
Using in-house expertise, Nestlé scientists would like to ensure that products are tailored to local consumer preferences, taste and nutritional requirements, the company’s officials said in a webinar on Tuesday.
The R&D center sits in the heart of a vibrant innovation ecosystem, which enables strong collaborations with partners, research institutions and start-ups across the region.
CEO Chris Johnson for Nestlé’s Zone Asia, Oceania and Sub-Saharan Africa said all food is local. If people want to be successful in their business, they need a good understanding of the flavors that people love, the dishes they want to serve to their families, and the food trends they want to try.
“That’s why it’s so important to have a research and development team in Singapore, here in the heart of Southeast Asia, a center of excellence driving innovation and product development in Asia, for Asia,” Johnson said.
To further strengthen the center’s innovation capabilities, Nestlé upgraded its R&D facilities to feature state-of-the-art labs, experimental kitchens, consumer testing, sensory evaluations rooms, open working spaces, as well as its fundamental research hub.
This move will help enable faster translation of breakthrough science into nutritious, great-tasting products for people across all life stages.
Besides upgraded facilities, the center will also include a new regional R&D Accelerator, which is part of Nestlé’s global R&D Accelerator network.
It provides a world-class platform for start-ups, graduate or undergraduate students, who may have new and fresh ideas, and Nestlé employees in the region to be able to develop and test novel concepts in under six months.
They will have access to Nestlé’s R&D expertise, co-working spaces, and small- to medium-scale production equipment to facilitate the rapid upscaling of products for a test launch in real market conditions.
Thomas Hauser, head of Global Product and Technology Development for Nestlé, said the R&D center in Singapore has a long history of developing innovative products for Southeast Asia that are inspired by the cultural diversity and different local cuisines.
“Upgrading the center with state-of-the-art facilities, including the new R&D Accelerator, is proof of our long-term commitment to the region. We will also be able to respond to food and beverage trends and challenges more quickly and efficiently,” Hauser said.
With years of experience, the R&D center has greatly contributed to the innovation of many products among its brands, such as coffee mixes, powdered beverages, such as Milo, culinary products, plant-based foods and beverages and ice cream.
The Milo products, for example, in Australia use plant-based ingredients but still retains Milo’s signature taste.
Using its expertise in coffee creamers innovation, local experts developed a range of great-tasting, creamy Nescafé Gold nondairy lattes in only eight months, which are now available in over 20 countries.
This expertise was also leveraged for the launch of Starbucks plant-based Silky Soy Latte and Toasted Oat Lattes.
R&D experts in Singapore also support the development of plant-based meal solutions for both retail and out-of-home for the local Harvest Gourmet brand. Products are adapted for Asian consumers, using local cuisine applications, such as dumplings, stir fry, braising, katsudon, and more.
Nestlé assures that even if the plant-based food category is growing, it will still continue to develop dairy-based food products in order to give consumers the option to choose based on their food preference, whether meat/dairy or plant-based products.
Besides food innovations, the R&D center is aggressively conducting tests on packaging to help eliminate the use of single-use plastics and instead use recyclable containers. Nescafé products currently use recyclabled paper, including paper-based packaging for KitKat in Thailand.
These packaging innovations are part of Nestlé’s commitment to use less plastic by year 2025 and transition to using recyclable or reusable packaging that will help the company reduce by one-third its use of virgin plastic materials and go for more paper-based packaging.
Nestlé’s R&D center in Singapore is part of the company’s global R&D organization which consists of 23 locations around the world. By strengthening the center’s capabilities, it can better accelerate the innovation of science-based products across life stages, in a way that’s good for the people and the planet.