• March 11, 2008

Nestlé is establishing the Chocolate Centre of Excellence, the company's first R&D facility entirely dedicated to the development of premium and luxury chocolate.

Located at Nestlé's chocolate factory in Broc, Switzerland, it will be operational in the first half of 2009 and will bring together both internal and external know-how of international chocolate-making professionals.

The company says this is "a further sign that Nestlé sees luxury and premium products as one of its key strategic areas with above-average growth and profit potential over the coming years.

In confectionery, the strong growth of dark and premium chocolate is the most visible sign of "premiumization", as witnessed by strong brands such as Cailler, Perugina, Baci and Nestlé Noir, the company says. It also explains Nestlé's partnership with Belgian luxury chocolatier Pierre Marcolini who will provide inspiration to the team in Broc for some of the company's future chocolate ranges, per the company.--Nina M. Lentini