Nestle: inaugurates Chocolate Centre of Excellence

Vevey / CH. (nag) This week Nestle S.A. inaugurated the Chocolate Centre of Excellence in Broc (CH) in the presence of Doris Leuthard, Swiss Minister of Economic Affairs, Beat Vonlanthen, Minister of Canton Fribourg, Stephane Sudan, Mayor of Broc, as well as Nestle CEO Paul Bulcke, Petraea Heynike, Nestle Executive Vice President responsible for the Strategic Business Units, Marketing, Sales and Nespresso, and Werner Bauer, Nestle Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer.

The Chocolate Centre of Excellence builds on Nestle´s chocolate-making heritage and will spearhead its drive in the premium and luxury chocolate segment, which in turn will influence the company´s entire chocolate range. The Centre combines a team of Nestle specialists, from fine cocoa bean scientists, sensory experts and chocolatiers to packaging designers and consumer specialists, with the artistic inspiration of a panel of independent chocolatiers such as Pierre Marcolini, Tristan Carbonatto and Roger von Rotz. This spirit of open innovation is further illustrated by the Centre´s partnership with prestigious external design institutions such as the California Art Center and the ECAL University of Art and Design in Lausanne.

The investment of 25 million CHF underlines the strategic importance Nestle attributes to its chocolate business, especially in the premium and luxury segment. In 2008 the chocolate business reached sales of 9,8 billion CHF, with an organic growth of 7,6 percent. While global brands such as Kit Kat reached sales of over one billion CHF, 70 percent of Nestle´s chocolate business comes from local brands. In the premium and luxury segment, which grows above the category average, Nestle is leader in dark chocolate and is well known for premium brands such as Nestle Noir, Perugina, Cailler and Nespresso luxury chocolate.

The Chocolate Centre of Excellence is part of Nestle´s research and development network, which comprises 28 centres and employs around 5’000 people worldwide. Several of these centres contribute to the research in the field of chocolate and cocoa. Over the last 30 years Nestle´s research has led to a technology enabling the mass production of high-yielding, disease-resistant cocoa plants to rejuvenate existing plantations. The propagation of superior plants is currently underway in Ecuador, Venezuela, Indonesia and C?´te d´Ivoire, where millions of plants will continue to be distributed in the coming years. In Ecuador and Venezuela, where the finest cocoa is sourced, Nestle helps to protect and promote unique fine cocoa varieties.

Nestle has been providing support to farmers for many years. This commitment to rural development is an expression of the principle of Creating Shared Value, which is part of Nestle´s business strategy. For a business to be successful in the long term, it must create value not only for its shareholders but also for society and communities at large, from farmers to employees to consumers.