PepsiCo opens F&B innovation center in DuBiotech

Food and beverage company, PepsiCo has announced the opening of its first innovation facility in the Middle East. Based in the Nucleotide Lab Complex of DuBiotech in Dubai, the facility will serve as a hub of new products and flavours innovations for PepsiCo’s businesses across the region.

The new facility is equipped with an advanced culinary center and test laboratories focused on developing and tailoring PepsiCo food and beverage brands for distinct, locally relevant taste preferences throughout the region.  The new facility will allow researchers to quickly test new product ideas and support efforts to significantly accelerate the pace of PepsiCo’s innovation across the region.

“Innovation has always fueled PepsiCo’s growth engine and enabled us to build a portfolio of great-tasting, convenient food and beverage brands that are loved by consumers around the globe,” says Omar Farid, PepsiCo president for Middle East and Africa. “The Dubai facility is a game-changer for our business that we anticipate will fast forward our innovation process throughout the entire region.”

The facility is the first PepsiCo food and beverage innovation center in the region, which is designed to continue PepsiCo’s efforts to unlock new opportunities for breakthrough innovation across the company’s diverse portfolio of complementary brands and enable greater speed and efficiency throughout the entire R&D and innovation process.  The new Dubai facility will also work collaboratively with other PepsiCo R&D locations around the world to share insights and best practices.

 “PepsiCo continues to build global research and development capabilities that are differentiating our brands in the marketplace and driving attractive new growth opportunities,” says Jan Weststrate, senior vice-president R&D PepsiCo Asia, Middle East & Africa. “This new innovation center will also allow our experts in the region to continue driving science, technology and innovation thought leadership.”