AUSTRALIA – Nestlé Professional has invested US$2.5 million in its Smithtown factory in New South Wales to bolster local manufacturing and support collaborative product developments, starting with a recyclable Hot Chockee cup.
The company says that its Smithtown facility, where popular products like Milo, Nesquik and Nestlé hot chocolate are made and packaged, will now have the capacity to produce 4.7 million cups of Hot Chockee over the next twelve months.
Developed in partnership 7-Eleven, Hot Chockee is a ready-to-go cup filled with hot chocolate powder.
Hot Chockee was previously imported from Europe, making the project a big win for manufacturing in Australia and specifically for Smithtown in regional NSW.
Nestlé Professional Oceania general manager Kristina Czepl said: “The recent investment into the Smithtown factory has allowed us to collaborate on exciting new packaging solutions.
“It is a great example of working with like-minded partners to pioneer alternative materials to facilitate better recycling.”
The new polypropylene (PP) Hot Chockee cup, including the PP label and foil seal, is accepted through kerbside recycling as verified by the PREP tool, and carries the Australasian Recycling Label with clear disposal instructions.
This move could save up to 95 tonnes of waste from entering landfill each year, according to Nestlé Professional.
7-Eleven head of Sustainability, Fiona Baxter said: “We are incredibly proud to continue our partnership with Nestlé Professional and invest in innovative packaging solutions.
“Our new 7- Eleven Hot Chockee still has the same delicious taste, made and packed in Australia, with approximately 68 percent of ingredients sourced locally.
“This innovation helps both Nestlé and 7-Eleven to continue to work together towards our packaging sustainability targets.”
Nestlé Health invests US$43M to expand manufacturing facility in the US
Meanwhile, Nestlé Health Science has invested US$43 million in its Eau Claire, Wisconsin factory, to increase capacity to meet the growing demand for its Boost and Carnation Breakfast Essentials ready-to-drink products.
This is the second major expansion investment Nestle has made in the Wisconsin facility in recent years.
In 2020, the company spent US$50 million to boost its production capacity and eliminate straws from its packaging to meet its sustainability goals.
The Eau Claire manufacturing facility produces a range of medical nutrition products, such as tube feeding formulas and health drinks for brands such as BOOST and Carnation Breakfast Essentials.
According to the company, the investment in two additional lines will bring around 60 jobs–from processing and packaging to mechanics and engineering–to the local community.
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