Mondelēz International celebrated the grand opening of its new Global Research & Development (R&D) Innovation Center. The ribbon cutting was attended by dignitaries and other special guests, including U.S. Senator Bob Menendez; U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill; and New Jersey Secretary of State Tahesha Way; who joined Norberto Chaclin, Global Senior Vice President, R&D Biscuits and Baked Snacks at Mondelēz International; Frank Sabella, Mondelēz International Senior Vice President R&D Global Beverages, Gum, Candy and Meals; and Mondelēz employees.
Mondelēz International Inc. opened its new Global Research & Development (R&D) Innovation Center in Whippany, N.J., yesterday — a $50 million facility that includes pilot and scale-up capability for cookies, crackers and candy. According to a release from the company, the new Innovation Center will propel R&D for snacks, such as Oreo cookies, Ritz crackers and Sour Patch Kids candies.
The innovation center will employ more than 50 R&D employees, and Mondelēz expects the Whippany team to support innovation on electric baking technology, helping the company work toward achieving its 2050 goal of net zero carbon emissions across its value chain.
Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.
