Jafza-based Nestle Middle East, the regional headquarters of top nutrition, health and wellness company Nestle Group, said it has started full fledged production at its new facility in TechnoPark, Dubai.

Built over an area of 6.5 million sq ft, the new 1.78 million sq ft facility is currently devoted to producing powdered milk and the repacking of Mackintosh’S Quality Street chocolates, the company said in a statement.

Nestle plans to start manufacturing chocolates and wafers, as well as water from the new facility later in 2010, according to Yves Manghardt, chairman and CEO of Nestle Middle East.

“The production capacity of the new facility will be more than 100,000 tons per year. We have made enough provision to expand our operations to meet growing market demands for the next few years,” he added.

"The Middle East region is part of the Nestle Group’s Asia, Oceania and Africa Zone, and is considered as a region having tremendous growth potential," Manghardt noted.

"We have invested more than $400 million in the Middle East over the years and our new multi million dollar manufacturing facility in TechnoPark is another testimonial to our deep commitment to this region,” he noted.

“We have more than 70 years of heritage in the Middle East, during this time we have gained the trust of consumers by providing them with quality products and services. This has helped us in positioning ourselves as the region’s leading Food, Nutrition, Health and Wellness Company,” Manghardt stated.

Nestlé Middle East operates in 13 countries in the Middle East region including the GCC countries, Levant, Iran, Iraq and Yemen.

“We operate directly (Distribution and Sales) in all the markets except in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Yemen and Abu Dhabi, where we still operate through sales agents,” Manghardt noted.

Nestle Middle East boasts of a product portfolio that currently exceeds 50 innovative products in a wide range of categories including infant nutrition, milks, confectionery, coffee, beverage creamers, culinary, water, breakfast cereal and pet food.-TradeArabia News Service