The stunning facility will be dedicated to driving innovation and new products that will excite consumers and customers in The Netherlands and across Europe, a key market for Heinz, a global leader in the packaged foods industry.
In total 160 chefs, food-scientists, quality engineers and researchers will drive innovation across Europe in this center, which has its heartland in the Nijmegen region for over the past 90 years.
”Located as we are at the conjunction of the internationally recognized Dutch Food and Health Valley, we aspire to become leading innovators in the provision of great tasting healthy food solutions to the people of the markets we serve”, said Mark Atkins, vice president R&D Europe for Heinz.
Heinz has chosen Nijmegen to be the continued place for its R&D center, the largest R&D facility of Heinz outside the US.
The proximity to leading academic work in core areas of interest and its European offices and operations in the Netherlands convinced Heinz management to build the center in Nijmegen. “I expect the Heinz European Innovation Center to be an important economic and scientific asset in this valley with its emphasis on research and development, especially in the areas of new products, nutrition and packaging” said Atkins.
The building breathes full transparency, openness and entrepreneurship. It has state of art facilities like culinary kitchens, a sensory center, microbiological lab and a pilot plant. During his tour through the building the Prince “bottled” the first Ketchup from the pilot line and experienced the taste of the world’s favorite ketchup.
Heinz named its Innovation Center “57” a tribute to its founder, the legendary Henry John Heinz, whose recipe for success consisted of four key ingredients: quality, innovation, value and integrity.
Source: Heinz press release, 18 April 2013