Nestlé Inaugurates Its First Cereal Snacks Plant in China

Nestlé has inaugurated its first Gerber NutriPuffs cereal snacks plant in China, an investment of around RMB 100 million (approx. EUR12.7m).

The factory situated in Shuangcheng District, Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province, will produce organic and regular Gerber NutriPuffs, with a total of eight flavors. They will come in cans and flexible packaging that are 100% recyclable, in line with Nestlé’s commitment to make all its packaging reusable or recyclable by 2025.

Gerber has a range of baby foods already available in China including infant cereal, fruit and vegetable puree, and baby snacks. Currently, Gerber is the No. 1 brand of infant cereal in China market.

The event marks the first official production of Gerber Nutripuff in China.

Equipped with high-tech automatic equipment, including fully automated canning and packaging lines imported from the UK, USA and Switzerland, the production line has an annual production capacity of about 1,400 tons.

The factory follows the US Green Building Council (LEED) Gold Standard.

Rashid Qureshi, Chairman and CEO of Nestlé Greater China, said: “This new factory represents Nestlé’s latest investment in Shuangcheng and demonstrates Nestlé’s great confidence and firm commitment to the Chinese market. I am honored to witness Nestlé’s milestone in Shuangcheng together with everyone. Nestlé and Shuangcheng have written a positive story of sincere cooperation, and we have every reason to continue such success.”

The puff products to be produced in China are the star products of Gerber, including organic and non-organic puff products, with a total of 8 flavors. Cans and flexible packaging are 100% recyclable, reflecting Nestlé’s strong commitment to sustainability. The raw rice used by Gerber Nutripuff also comes from Songnen Plain in Heilongjiang Province, an area with abundant sunshine and significant temperature difference between day and night. The rice – Akitakomati rice – is watered by Nenjiang River, organically grown, and certified by the state. From seed selection, sowing, field management, harvesting, drying and storage to processing, a dedicated agricultural team provides technical guidance and supervision to ensure safety and traceability. The rice is sent to the Gerber factory for processing within 24 hours after hulling to ensure the rice retains its nutritious value.

Binu Jacob, senior vice president of Infant Nutrition Business Unit for Nestlé Greater China, said: “In the construction of Gerber Nutripuff factory in Shuangcheng, we hope to provide nutritious and quality-assured supplement food to help Chinese babies to meet their growing needs at different stages. We also believe that Nestlé’s technical advantages and industrial advantages of Shuangcheng will create greater economic and social benefits, promote the development and upgrading of Shuangcheng agriculture and food industry, and promote a win-win for local economic and social development.”

Nestlé’s first factory in China, established in 1987 in Shuangcheng, produces milk powder, cereals, and infant formula.