KUALA LUMPUR – The Hershey Company, the firm behind the popular namesake chocolate snacks, have set up a new research and development (R&D) centre in Johor, Malaysia – one of its biggest outside of the United States.
In a statement today, the company said the centre will serve as AEMEA’s (Asia, Europe, Middle East and Africa) hub for innovation and technology, citing investments as a core part of its strategy to drive international growth.
The chocolate manufacturer claims the facility will enable it to quickly develop, test and launch new products customised to the tastes of consumers across the region.
“Our new R&D centre reflects our ongoing commitment to understanding the preferences of consumers across the markets,” Hershey’s AEMEA and India vice-president Herjit Bhalla said today.
Herjit was recently in Malaysia together with the company’s vice-president of international finance and commerce William Pritchett for the official opening of the centre.
The 10,400 sq ft facility in Johor will house R&D laboratories, a packaging development facility, and a sensory area.
According to Hershey’s, the centre will enable the company to partner with various innovators to taste-test and shortlist its iconic products before they hit the shelves.
Senior director of R&D Philippe Zehnder said the facility will allow the team to gain deeper insights into consumers.
“This investment in Malaysia is just one example of how Hershey’s is continuing to reinvent the science of confectionery through internal and external innovation.”
Today, Hershey’s has approximately 19,000 employees globally, with more than 100 brand names in some 80 countries. – The Vibes, May 13, 2022
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