The state-of-the-art facility in Jurong will focus on innovation and developing new products and technologies for some of Mondelēz’s renowned brands such as Clorets, Halls and The Natural Confectionery Company candy; Stride, Trident and Dentyne gum; and Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate and Oreo biscuits.
The new 2,010m² facility it is part of Mondelēz’s $65m global investment in nine technologically-advanced Research, Development, Quality and Innovation (RDQI) hubs, strategically positioned around the globe.
Meeting the needs of AMEA
Singapore’s RDQI hub serves more than 35 manufacturing sites across its network in the Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region.
“As home to three-quarters of the world’s population, the AMEA region has many unique snacking cultures. Combined with the rise of the middle classes, and as incomes and buying power increase, we see many opportunities to innovate,” said Maurizio Brusadelli, executive vice-president and president, AMEA, Mondelēz.
“The new hub improves speed, efficiency and effectiveness, while increased scale enables us to meet consumer needs quickly.”
The other Mondelēz International Technical Centres that are fully operational are in New Jersey in the US, Curitiba in Brazil, Bourneville and Reading in the UK, and Wroclaw in Poland.
Facilities and talent in Singapore hub
The Singapore Technical Centre is equipped with multiple technical capabilities, such as a pilot facility, a packaging creative studio and a range of labs for technical research — including a gum lab, candy lab, sensory lab and microbiology and analytical lab.
“Having all our RDQI functions in the centre establishes a critical mass of talent, allowing us to share knowledge and develop better products for consumers across the region,” stated the company.
The Technical Centre is also one of the first buildings in Singapore to use chillers with zero greenhouse warming potential.
The new site will home up to 75 scientists, developers, engineers, analytical chemists and other specialists — encompassing all RDQI functions including product development, technologists, consumer scientists, ingredient research, quality, and scientific and regulatory affairs — from around over the world.
“As a world-class research team, we want to attract people at the forefront of thriving innovation scenes. Singapore has an incredible and diverse pool of young tech talent, which we look forward to nurturing as part of our RDQI team,” said Rob Hargrove, executive vice-president, RDQI, Mondelēz.
Gum in Singapore?
The importing of chewing gum has been prohibited in Singapore from 1992. The law has since been slightly relaxed to allow pharmacists and dentists to sell only “therapeutic gum” to customers with prescription.
While work in the new Technical Centre will also be on gum products, Mondelēz said the company does not sell its gum brands in Singapore.