Mondelez launches $90M 'Factory of the Future' in Bahrain
Mondelez International Inc., headquartered in Deerfield, opened a new facility this week in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Dubbed a "Factory of the Future," the $90 million plant will produce the company's "power brands," including Oreo cookies and Barni soft cakes, and serve as a hub for exports to the Gulf region.
The 269,000-square-foot facility, about the size of 30 soccer fields, will be able to produce nearly 45,000 tons of product per year, according to Mondelez. The plant is located adjacent to the company's existing manufacturing site, which has been producing Kraft cheese and Tang powdered beverages since 2008.
"The Middle East and Africa are priority markets for us, and we're confident in our selection of Bahrain as the preferred location for our plant, due to its business-friendly environment, skilled local workforce and excellent transport links, all of which will be instrumental to the success of our growth plans," said Maurizio Brusadelli, president, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, Mondelez International. "We thank the Government of Bahrain for their continued support. This site is our second major investment in the Kingdom over the past 10 years, further strengthening Bahrain's position as a strategic business hub and contributing to national economic growth."
"This investment in Bahrain is a great example of how we're building a world-class supply chain, with 'Factories of the Future' in strategic locations around the world designed to simplify operations, increase flexibility, improve productivity and meet the growth demands of our Power Brands," said Daniel Myers, executive vice-president of integrated supply chain at Mondelez. "We're keenly focused on winning with our consumers and customers, as we simplify and modernize our operations and production capacity. We're making our company more nimble and efficient, creating the fuel we need to invest in our brands and our people - our most important assets - and deliver sustainable, profitable growth for our shareholders."
The site created about 150 direct jobs and helps sustain over 12,000 more indirect jobs in the local economy through its two plants.