Mondelez International, home to some of the UK’s best loved brands including Cadbury Dairy Milk, Green & Black’s, OREO, Maynards Bassets, Trebor and Ritz, is investing £4.7m into its UK food research and development programme.
The investment at the company’s Reading Science Centre will support the development of new and improved chocolate, biscuit and candy products for over 150 different countries.
The Reading Science Centre is currently home to over 290 scientists, chemists, food technologists and other specialists. A further 50 highly skilled food science and engineering jobs will be created over the next five years.
The announcement is aligned with the company’s strategy to develop a global network of state-of-the-art technical hubs strategically positioned around the world. These technical centres accelerate Mondelez growth and innovation, and helps the business to recruit, retain and develop talent across a range of science and technical disciplines.
Louise Stigant, UK Managing Director at Mondelez International, (pictured second right at the Centre), said, “Over the last seven years we have invested £23 million into our research centres in Reading and Bournville in Birmingham and they play a vital role in developing products for consumers not just in the UK, but across the world.
This extra investment will allow for the creation of 50 highly skilled jobs. It will also accelerate our growth strategy, offering innovative chocolate, biscuit and candy products that meet the changing needs of consumers, while maintaining a competitive edge in the markets of tomorrow.”
David Rutley, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at DEFRA, (pictured second left), said, “I welcome this significant investment from Mondelez and the exciting work that this leading food manufacturer is doing to research and test new and improved products across its global operations.
“Research and development is vital to increasing the productivity, competitiveness and growth of our food and drink manufacturing sector, which contributes £31 billion to the UK economy each year and employs more than 440,000 people. The UK Government is committed to working closely with industry to see this success continue.”