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Minister of Trade and Industry reviews Nestlé’s Investment in Local Innovations

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Valsayn, Trinidad and Tobago

Nestlé welcomed Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry in Trinidad and Tobago, for an official visit to the company’s Valsayn Factory and Head Office on November 27th, 2019. High on the agenda was Nestlé’s ongoing commitment to discovering and developing innovative products that fuel business and economic growth and, are manufactured in Trinidad.

Trade Minister Visit 2
Left to Right: Elisa Doldron - Nestlé Business Executive Officer Core Business, Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon – Minister of Trade and Industry, Joao Almeida - Nestlé Factory Manager, Shellini Piaralal - Nestlé Production Manager, and Patricio Torres – Nestlé Head of Market Anglo Dutch Caribbean tour Nestlé’s Valsayn Factory. 

 

In 2018, Nestlé Trinidad invested in infrastructure for their new 200ml factory line, and introduced an exciting new family of ORCHARD flavours, ranging from Piña Colada to Apple Mandarin to Orange Carrot. In 2019, they introduced their new Nestlé Nutri-GO® nutritional energy shake, three new ORHCARD Fruit & Veggie blends, the new NESTLE Beet Root Flavoured Milk Drink as well as the new NESTLE Creamy Vanilla Shake and Milk Chocolate Shake, all manufactured locally at their Valsayn Factory. In 2019, Nestlé also launched NESTLE Full Cream Sweetened Condensed Milk, and NESTLE Green Butterfly Filled Sweetened Condensed Milk, manufactured in Jamaica through a co-manufacturing agreement with SEPROD, reinforcing Nestlé’s exemplified commitment to and investment in products produced in the Caribbean.

The Honourable Minister was very receptive to the Innovation and Renovation pipeline outlined by Nestlé, stating, “That’s where our focus has to be and this is how we have to help Nestlé. In the last budget, in addition to all the incentives we had, we actually brought the taxation for farmers down to zero. It means that we have to focus on agriculture, not only to reduce the food import bill and to give us safer food to eat, but as inputs into manufacturing.” 

In October 2019, Nestlé received the prestigious TTMA Innovator of the Year Award for the strides made in transforming its iconic local ORCHARD brand into a re-imagined and thriving regional brand with international reach.

Patricio Torres, Head of Market Nestlé Anglo Dutch Caribbean stated, “We are committed to strengthening the local innovation ecosystem in Trinidad, bringing trend-based products to market faster and more efficiently, with nutrition, health and wellness at the core of our product development. We believe this approach is an important economic growth driver for Trinidad and Tobago, and will lead to sustained success and growth as we continue to deliver our purpose – to enhance quality of life and contribute to a healthier future.” 

Trade Minister Visit
Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon samples Nestlé Nutri-GO with Nestlé Head of Market Patricio Torres

 

Trade Minister Visit
Nestlé Business Executive Officer Core Business Elisa Doldron highlights the ingredients in ORHCARD Fruit & Veggie blends to Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon