F EATURE
Nestlé’s factory in Lae, Morobe Province. The Switzerland-based food giant has had a presence in the PNG market since the 1970s. Credit: Nestlé PNG
Twenty-five years of Nestlé in PNG 2012 marks 25 years of successful manufacturing in PNG for global food giant, Nestlé.
N
estlé is one of the world’s leading food and nutrition companies, employing more than 330,000 people worldwide and with more than 460 factories across 83 countries. From its humble beginnings in PNG in the late 1970s, Nestlé operations have grown to include a local manufacturing plant in Lae, which produces Maggi Instant Noodles and repacks Maggi Kakaruk Cubes, Nescafé coffee, Milo chocolate malt drink and Sunshine milk powder. Nestlé entered the PNG market when it began importing instant noodles from Malaysia and Australia. The growing demand from Papua New Guinean consumers during these early days led the company to investigate establishing a local factory to supply instant noodles and Nescafé coffee to the local market. The Lae Maggi
24
Factory was opened in 1987 and has steadily increased production due to strong growth in the instant noodles and stock cubes business. ‘We have a strong 25-year history of providing quality products to consumers, nutrition education to the community, and good employment opportunities to our staff,’ says Eugene David, Nestlé Pacific Islands Managing Director.
Global expertise and local support Eugene David says that, in addition to its strong connection with PNG’s manufacturing industry, Nestlé also supports local agriculture with production of Nescafé Nuigini Blend coffee using arabica beans from PNG.