Unilever to open global foods innovation center in The Netherlands

UNILEVER plans to build a global Foods Innovation Centre in Wageningen, the Netherlands, and co-locate this with its Foods R&D organizations in Vlaardingen (the Netherlands), Heilbronn (Germany) and Poznan (Poland).

By co-locating the R&D resources of its categories (Home Care, Personal Care, Foods & Refreshment) into the key R&D locations, Unilever will create critical mass in expertise areas to ensure that the technologies ultimately bring benefit-led, breakthrough innovations to the markets. The company aims to evolve R&D sites into innovation ecosystems to leverage the knowledge and expertise of external partners. It said 550 roles will be housed in the new site which will be operational by April 2019.

Jan Zijderveld, President Unilever Europe: “The Agri-Food Innovation climate in The Netherlands is very strong. The co-location of all elements of our Foods R&D organization within the Foods Innovation ecosystem in Wageningen will enable Unilever to strengthen its ability to develop cutting edge Foods innovations in close collaboration with the Wageningen University & Research (WUR) and a broad variety of other science institutes and startups.”

Amanda Sourry, President Unilever Foods: “The Foods Innovation ecosystem in Wageningen will bring together a strong combination of in-house R&D and external science and technology, talent and facilities, increasing the impact of Unilever’s own resources and capabilities, and ultimately creating the innovative power that we need to provide leadership in Foods.”

Meanwhile, the R&D Home Care, Personal Care and Refreshment organizations that are currently based in Vlaardingen will move to the Innovation ecosystems in Port Sunlight (Home & Personal Care) and to Colworth Science Park (Refreshment). The Vlaardingen site will close over time.