PepsiCo opens state-of-the-art technology centre
New £16m flagship facility will drive development of healthier foods and snacks for Europe
PepsiCo is today opening a new Technical Centre of Excellence in Beaumont Leys, Leicester, which will drive forward the company's innovation, productivity and sustainability programmes. The 92,000 sq ft facility will house the company's core technical staff across R&D Engineering and Technical Services.
The flagship technical centre will be at the cutting edge of PepsiCo's drive to develop new and healthier foods and snacks for the European market including leading brands, Walkers, Lays, Doritos, Cheetos, Wotsits and the Quaker range of cereals and cereal bars.
Mike White, PepsiCo International CEO, is opening the facility, alongside PepsiCo's UK President, Salman Amin, Zein Abdalla, President of PepsiCo Europe and global Chief Scientific Officer, Mehmood Khan.
The building brings key facilities under one roof for the first time ever, including a state-of-the-art sensory laboratory, product development laboratories and "pilot plants", small-scale production facilities that allow PepsiCo R&D specialists to make and test prototype ingredients, flavours and products.
Commenting on the opening, Rob Hargrove, Vice President of R&D PepsiCo Europe said:
"Creating great-tasting snacks and foods that satisfy changing consumer needs and interests is at the core of our business. This new facility will allow us to build on our success to date in creating healthier products which meet consumers' demand for enjoyable, satisfying foods."
The £16m project is part of PepsiCo's increased commitment to greater investment in research and science. Recent major PepsiCo innovations include the development of SunseedTM Oil, which allowed Walkers to reduce the saturated fat content by 80% across its crisps and other snacks in 2006 and 2007 - a move that took the category back into growth - as well as new products Walkers Baked and Sunbites.
PepsiCo is expanding its global research and development capability under the leadership of one of the world's leading endocrinologists and other experts in science, nutrition and health policy. The company recently hired for the first time a Chief Scientific Officer, Mehmood Khan, to bring a new level of expertise and focus to its efforts to develop products that address consumer interest in nutrition and functional benefits.
With increased research capability and investment, the global R&D team will establish priorities and standards of practice for longer-term research, nutrition, food safety, regulatory and health policy.
Globally there are eight regional research centres focused on leveraging nutrition science, knowledge, and insight to develop convenience foods and beverages that can positively impact health. The centres are located in Leicester; Monterrey and Mexico City in Mexico; Shanghai; New Delhi, India; and Valhalla, Plano and Barrington in the USA.
PepsiCo staff at the new facility in Leicester participated in working groups to influence the design of the facility, which features a multi-faith room, fitness centre and restaurant serving healthy, fresh-cooked meals.
Rob Hargrove further commented on the vision for the facility:
"This facility represents our core values. Through extensive consultation, we have designed a building to best suit the needs of our staff as well as allow us to continue to drive the development of healthier snacks and foods."
The 175 staff members accommodated at the new centre have relocated from the Walkers R&D facility four miles away in Thurmaston.
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