Kraft Foods (Suzhou) Company Limited, part of the Mondelez Internationalfamily of companies, hosted a ground-breaking ceremony for the expansion of its biscuit plant in Suzhou, China. With a total investment of approximately 85 million USD, the project spans 30’000 square meters (more than 98’000 square feet) and is expected to be completed in August 2014. The project will more than double the plant´s current capacity and create 340 new jobs. The Suzhou plant will feature state-of-the-art production lines to make Oreo and Chips Ahoy! biscuits to meet the growing demand from Chinese consumers. This project is consistent with the company´s strategy to invest in emerging markets to drive sustainable, profitable growth. «We deeply appreciate the Suzhou government´s help and support for Kraft Foods China and this project», said Shawn Warren, President of Kraft Foods China. «Since the introduction of Oreo and Chips Ahoy! to China in 1996, the country has become our second-largest market for these brands globally, after the United States, due to our consistent focus on quality, innovation and marketing. After this project is completed, the expanded plant will be a model in our global supply chain network». Mondelez International currently operates two manufacturing plants and a regional biscuit research and development center in Suzhou.
Promoting Energy Efficiency
Kraft Foods China has been actively promoting energy efficiency and emissions reductions at its plants, too. In 2011 and 2012, the Suzhou plants received awards from Suzhou´s Industrial Zone for various «green» innovations, including «Air-Compressor and Oven Waste Heat Recovery» and «High Efficient Lighting and Air Conditioning». Those projects save nearly 200’000 cubic meters of natural gas and nearly 1,3 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year, or approximately 685 tons of Standard Coal Equivalent. In addition, the office building at the Suzhou plant was awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Certification, making it the first project to gain such certification in the company´s Asia Pacific region.
Source: Bakenet:eu
