FDBusiness.com

Mondelēz International, the world’s pre-eminent maker of chocolate, biscuits, gum and candy, has opened a new $30 million state-of-the-art chocolate production line at is Skarbimierz plant in Poland to capitalise on growing demand in its European confectionery business. The investment is part of the company’s ongoing journey to create a global best-in-class integrated supply chain by transforming its manufacturing assets and processes to reduce costs and improve productivity.

Skarbimierz’s new Line of the Future increases capacity, operates more efficiently and offers greater flexibility through its modular design. This new line is a first within the company’s manufacturing network in Poland and only the second in Central Europe. The investment will support the growth aspirations of the company’s chocolate and biscuit categories by enabling production of innovative snacking product formats for favorite brands such as Milka, Oreo, Cadbury and Terry’s Chocolate Orange, as well as the beloved local Polish brand 3Bit.

This is the first major investment in the Skarbimierz factory since its opening in 2010. The investment brings modern technical solutions and improved safety standards to the plant to support an increase in production volume and up to 90 new positions. The development builds on Mondelēz International’s earlier investment of $15 million to establish a global research and development center in the Wroclaw area.

The plant in Skarbimierz has operated for five years and is the most modern chocolate factory in Europe, with around 400 employees. The products from this plant are sold in domestic and international markets. Skarbimierz is also the first Polish plant to implement the Integrated Lean Six Sigma quality management program to develop team capabilities and drive a high-performing culture.

“We strongly believe in the growth opportunities in Europe’s snacking market,” says Jürgen Leiße, President Central Europe, Mondelēz International. “As Poland’s market leader in biscuits and chocolate, we know that maintaining our competitive advantage requires best-in-class manufacturing technology, such as the ‘Line of the Future’ introduced.”

Mondelez Poland is a leading snacking company that has been operating in the Polish market for 23 years. The company has seven manufacturing sites in the country. The plants in Jankowice, Bielany Wroclawskie and Skarbimierz produce chocolate products. Skarbimierz is also home to a chewing gum plant. Plants in Jaroslaw, Cieszyn and Plonsk produce biscuits and wafers. The company employs approximately 3,300 people in Poland.