Global snack food producer Mondelēz International has expanded its Global Technical Center located in Wroclaw, Poland, with a $5m investment.

only one and a half years after the centre opening, the company made the latest investment in order to expand the research and development (R&D) activities beyond chocolate and bakery and serve gum and candy innovation.

Initially, the company invested $17m in the centre, which will now serve as the research and development hub for a wide range of gum and candy brands.

The centre will also feature a dedicated pilot plant for analytical and sensory labs. It will closely collaborate on innovations with more than 40 manufacturing sites across Europe.

Mondelēz International Research, Development and Quality executive vice-president Rob Hargrove said: “Our mission at Mondelēz International is simple, to offer consumers the right snack, for the right moment, made the right way and our global Technical Center network is crucial to support this.

“Poland is one of our most important markets in Central Europe, with an impressive manufacturing network, and Wroclaw is a modern city that’s open to investments.

“Embedding one of our largest technical centres here clearly signals the importance of Poland and Europe within our global R&D network.”

Currently, the Wroclaw technical centre, which facilitates innovation in its global and local brands such as Oreo, belVita, Milka, Cadbury Dairy Milk and Toblerone, will also be used for innovating gum and candy brands including Trident, Hollywood, Stimorol and Dirol.

The expansion of the facility is part of the company’s previously announced $65m investment in large RDQ hubs, strategically positioned worldwide.