Nestlé opens US$150m factory in Dubai

Nestlé Middle East has spent US$150 million building a new factory in Dubai, its 18th factory in the Middle East. Marco Settembri, Executive Vice President Nestlé SA and Head of Zone Europe, Middle East and North Africa, said: “The Al-Maha factory underlines our commitment to our customers, our willingness to invest and create jobs, and our ambition to minimize our environmental impact,” said Marco Settembri. “This (US$150 million) investment is Nestlé’s 18th production site in the Middle East and another milestone in our more than 80 years in this region. It shows our confidence in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates as a dynamic, stable and competitive business hub, and our long-term commitment to the people of the Middle East.” The new factory employs 340 men and women stemming from 20 different nationalities. Sixty per cent of the team is under 30 years old. Nestlé already operates two other factories in Dubai Investment Park, one for Nestlé Waters, and another – Nestlé Dubai Manufacturing – covering KitKat, Mackintosh’s Quality Street, and NIDO products. “Nestlé Al-Maha is yet another way for us to meet our commitment to the Middle East,” said Yves Manghardt, Chairman and CEO Nestlé Middle East FZE. “Manufacturing locally enables us to source locally, invest locally, make tailored products to better meet local needs, and serve communities in the region more rapidly and more effectively.” The new factory has already achieved outstanding results with regards to safety, with zero accidents during the construction period. It also met the stringent Nestlé quality standards from the very first production run. Nestlé Al-Maha holds the Halal certification of the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA). It runs on 100 per cent LED lighting, which consumes nominal energy, is fully insulated to save air-conditioning energy, recycles 100 per cent of waste from products and raw materials, reaching zero waste for landfill, implements water saving mechanisms, and has an ambition to operate on solar-generated power. The Factory also includes a permanent exhibit, showcasing the role Nestlé plays in society. Some examples in the Middle East are the Nestlé Healthy Kids Program – Ajyal Salima – now in five countries in the region where it has reached over 40,000 children to date; and United for Healthier Kids that has mobilised so far over 580,000 joiners to nurture healthier generations. The exhibit also features high-tech tools; including iPads and Oculi, allowing 360-degree virtual visits of farms around the world from which raw material is sourced for products. It also provides special presentations for students on site, and offers digital guides for career development and enhancement for Youth.