Nestle opens its first India R&D centre at Manesar

FMCG multinational Nestle on Thursday opened its first research and development (R&D) centre in India at the industrial township of Manesar in Haryana.

The centre will be part of Nestle's worldwide R&D network enabling the company to acquire local knowledge and use it on a global scale.

"Our R&D centre in India will help us gain important insights into local consumers' eating habits and taste preferences, as well as great expertise in using and processing local ingredients to develop products for India and beyond," said chief executive Paul Bulcke.

With the opening of this centre, the company aims to extend the range of mainstream products it currently offers in the country, particularly noodles, cereals, beverage and dairy categories, he added.

Tariq Anwar, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries, was chief guest at the opening of the centre. He hoped the centre will facilitate exchange of scientific knowledge and development of skills.

Nestle has been in India for 100 years. The company's sales agents first started work in Chennai and Kolkata in 1912.