Kraft Foods announced it intends to invest euro 15 million (approximately $20 million) in constructing a new Biscuit Research & Development (R&D) Center in Saclay, France, a suburb of Paris.
This new facility will serve as the company's European Center of Expertise for Biscuits, focusing on innovation and new product development for many of Europe's most beloved biscuit brands, including LU, Mikado, Oreo, Prince, Saiwa and TUC. The Center will also be responsible for advancing major biscuit technology platforms for the European market and beyond.
Scheduled to open during the first half of 2011, this new Center will be home to a team of researchers, product and packaging developers, and nutritionists dedicated to supporting the European biscuit business. These employees are currently located in leased space within the Groupe Danone R&D Center in Palaiseau, France, very close in proximity to the site of the new Center.
Once completed, the Center will join 11 other Kraft Foods R&D centers that support its businesses around the globe.
