Nespresso Continues to Invest in Switzerland

LAUSANNE and FRIBOURG, Switzerland, May 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Nestlé Nespresso SA today announced its commitment to build the third Nespresso Production Centre in Romont, in the Swiss canton of Fribourg. The new production centre will enable Nespresso to meet growing global consumer demand for its highest quality coffee in the years ahead.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120503/530900 )

"For Nespresso, today marks a strategic investment in its long-term business development," said Patrice Bula, Executive Vice President, Nestlé SA, responsible for the Strategic Business Units, Marketing, Sales and Chairman of Nespresso. "Some 25 years after creating the portioned coffee segment, the third Nespresso Production Centre will provide the capacity needed to sustain growth in Europe and develop our brand globally."

Nespresso has worked closely with Fribourg officials to finalise the location of the facility at Romont. It is expected that the construction will begin at the end of this year and that the production centre will be operational by the first half of 2015. Upon completion, Nespresso will have invested CHF 300 million and anticipates the creation of more than 400 direct jobs in the long term. Moreover, Nespresso will consider a potential expansion in a second phase to meet the growing consumer demands for its Grands Crus.

For the State Councillor Beat Vonlanthen: "this is fantastic news, not only for Romont and the district of Glâne, but also for the entire canton of Fribourg as well as Western Switzerland." According to Mr Vonlanthen, the profile of Nespresso is well suited to the canton of Fribourg. "Nespresso is an innovative and forward looking company. This new centre will further consolidate our already dynamic food cluster. This is especially good news for employment in our canton, which is the Swiss champion of population growth."

The site chosen in the industrial area "En Raboud" is located in one of the seven important cantonal strategic activity areas, near the Berne-Fribourg-Lausanne rail line. This project is of strategic importance to the canton of Fribourg. It builds on existing economic strengths in the food sector in a coherent way and at the same time, it reinforces the emerging "Food Tech" sector.

Maurice Ropraz, State Councillor, underlines the exemplary preparatory work undertaken by all partners: "This project required intense collaboration between Nespresso and the relevant departments of the State of Fribourg and the city of Romont."

Nespresso chose to build its third factory in Switzerland after due consideration of numerous options. "Nespresso is a company born in Switzerland, which is today the global reference for exceptional quality in portioned coffee. The decision to invest in the town of Romont is based primarily on Swiss excellence and the proximity to existing Nespresso teams in the country," said Mr. Bula. "Moreover, Romont offers a number of objective criteria of a central site in terms of logistics, strong infrastructures and solid professionalism of a skilled workforce - important factors in the past and future development of Nespresso."

"The Nespresso decision to invest here highlights once again the commitment of Nestlé to Switzerland," said Eugenio Simioni, Market Head of Nestlé Switzerland. "It also confirms the long-term trust that Nestlé has in the Swiss industrial environment."

The design, construction and operation of the new Nespresso Production Centre - similar in size to the one in Avenches - will be anchored in the unique Nespresso Ecolaboration™ sustainability framework. The new factory will integrate cutting-edge technology to improve efficiency and productivity, while minimising its environmental impact. The factory in Romont will capitalise on the sustainability experience gained at the Nespresso production centres in Orbe and Avenches.

Nespresso currently employs more than 2000 people in Switzerland. The country is home to the company's two existing production centres, its Swiss market team and its global headquarters.

NOTE TO EDITORS

Visuals are available on the Nestlé Nespresso corporate website: http://www.nestle-nespresso.com/media/library.

About Nestlé Nespresso SA
Nestlé Nespresso SA is the pioneer and reference for highest-quality portioned premium coffee. Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, Nespresso operates in more than 50 countries and has more than 7 000 employees. In 2011, it operated a global retail network of 270 exclusive boutiques. For more information, visit the new Nestlé Nespresso corporate website: http://www.nestle-nespresso.com.

SOURCE Nespresso