Heinz infant cereal factory opens in China

GUANGDONG, China – H.J. Heinz Company CEO Bernardo Hees joined Chinese government officials on Monday to celebrate the opening of the company’s largest infant cereal production plant in the world. The 80,000 square meter state-of-the-art factory, located in Foshan City in Guangdong Province, ushers in a new chapter for Heinz’s growth in China, a longstanding strategic location for the company.

Heinz China infant cerealFoshan Municipality party chief Liu Yuelun and Heinz CEO Bernardo Hees during the opening of Heinz China infant cereal plant

The grand opening and commencement of production at the Heinz factory coincided with the 30th anniversary of the company’s presence in the country, where it operates six other facilities. The factory will create 200 new jobs for the Foshan region and position Heinz to significantly increase production in China.

“Since the company’s founding in 1869, Heinz has been dedicated to providing the world’s highest-quality foods and beloved brands to consumers everywhere,” said Heinz CEO Bernardo Hees. “With this new world-class facility, we are proud to deepen our commitment to China and its people. The new facility will allow Heinz to continue to grow and exceed consumer expectations, while sustaining our leadership in the food industry.”

Mr. Hees praised Guangdong Province’s regional workforce and cited the factory’s strategic location as another asset for continued growth. Located between East Asia and Southeast Asia, Foshan is one of the most dynamic business environments in the Pearl River Delta economic zone.

“We are proud to welcome Heinz to our region,” said Liu Yuelun, Party Chief of Foshan Municipality. “We have worked closely with Heinz and Mr. Hees as this impressive project has come to life, and we will support the company’s continuing development in this region that is rich with opportunity.”

State-of-the-art facility

The new factory integrates the food industry’s most advanced infrastructure to uphold the Heinz’s  relentless focus on quality and safety. Advanced technologies, including drum dryers, powder handling systems and packaging machinery from global leaders including Andrtiz Gouda, GEA Group and Bosch, will enhance production speed, while ensuring the most stringent quality controls. Every product that leaves this factory must undergo rigorous quality tests, from raw materials through semi-finished product to finished products, before being shipped to market.

Additionally, addressing Chinese consumers’ concerns about food allergens, this facility will completely isolate allergens from raw material storage to the production process in order to exceed international standards and serve as an industry leader in the handling of allergens.

One of the first Fortune 500 companies to enter China, today Heinz is one of the world’s largest producers of baby rice cereal and bottled baby food, trusted globally for its quality and enduring expertise in infant nutrition. Heinz infant cereals have been available in the Chinese market for 30 years, constantly holding the No. 1 market position. Data shows that more than 50% of infants in China eat Heinz products on a regular basis.

"We have consistently lived our Heinz value of putting the consumer first, focusing on the development and innovation of infant nutrition ranging from infant formula and cereals to wet baby foods and noodles, to teething rusks and nutritional snacks. We are committed to providing Chinese babies with the safest and highest quality foods,” said Grace Chen, managing director of Heinz China.

The launch of the  plant is seen as a milestone for  continued strategic growth of Heinz in China, and around the world, as well as the evolution of China’s infant food industry.