A new culinary factory dedicated to manufacturing Nestl sauces, noodles, bouillons and seasoning brands such as Maggi was officially opened today in India.
With an investment of CHF 72 million, the 30,000 square-metre factory in Nanjangud in the region of Karnataka, is set to generate around 630 jobs.
Taking only nine months to be completed, the factory was inaugurated by Paul Bulcke, Nestl Chief Executive Officer, and Frits van Dijk, Zone Director of Asia, Oceania, Africa and Middle East.
Dr B.S. Yeddyurappa, Honourable Chief Minister of Karnataka; and Antonio Helio Waszyk, Chairman and Managing Director of Nestl India, also attended the event.
Currently operating a state-of-the-art coffee factory in Nanjangud, Mr Bulcke emphasised that Nestl s continued commitment and on-going investments demonstrate its confidence in the region of Karnataka and India overall.
He said: Our business is growing well in India and we are very optimistic about the country s growth opportunities over the coming years. This factory specialises in the manufacturing of culinary products and this investment reaffirms our confidence in our brands and people.
Mr Bulcke also added: As is true of all our worldwide operations, we are committed to Creating Shared Value in India both for shareholders and local communities. Creating Shared Value is the expression of our conviction that only by creating value for society as a whole, we can create long-term value for our shareholders.
Mr Bulcke pointed out that one of the examples of Creating Shared Value in India is the recently launched Nestl Healthy Kids Global Programme Saanjhapan .
The Saanjhapan scheme in Karnataka, India, forms part of Nestl Healthy Kids worldwide initiative to raise the Nutrition, Health and Wellness awareness of school children globally.
Developed in partnership with the University of Mysore, India, the scheme aims to create nutrition awareness, improved eating habits and a more active lifestyle among 13-17 year old school children.
In addition, Nestl is also working with the Government of Karnataka to continue to provide clean drinking water and sanitation facilities in village schools.
Related information:
Nestl India
Maggi India
Nestl Healthy Kids Programme
Map: Nanjangud, Karnataka, India
Photos available on Flickr
Video interview: Nestl CEO Paul Bulcke on NDTV, India (24 min 18 sec)