ROMONT AND LAUSANNE, Switzerland – Nestlé Nespresso inaugurated yesterday its new production centre in Romont, in the presence of Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs Johann Schneider-Ammann, State Councillor and Minister of Economic Affairs and Employment at the Canton of Fribourg Beat Vonlanthen, and Mayor of Romont Roger Brodard.
This is the third Nespresso site built in Switzerland since 2002, after Avenches and Orbe.
“This production centre represents a strategic, long-term investment to meet the growing global consumer demand for the highest quality Nespresso coffees in the coming years,” said Paul Bulcke, CEO of Nestlé SA. “It will not only contribute to the success of Nespresso in the growing portioned coffee segment, but also to the local, regional and national economic and social dynamism. Once again it demonstrates our affinity for our home country, with which we share values such as excellence and innovation.”
A true centre of coffee excellence and expertise, the Romont production centre was built in just over two years and represents a CHF300 million total investment. Since 2002 Nespresso has invested more than CHF1.1 billion in its industrial facilities in the cantons of Vaud and Fribourg.
In addition to the classic Nespresso capsules, the site will also produce the 14 Grands Crus for VertuoLine, a machine with revolutionary extraction technology, which was successfully launched in March 2014 in the United States and Canada. This machine was designed to cater to the North American preferences for large-cup coffees.
“With the production of VertuoLine capsules, Romont will support our significant growth ambitions in North America. Driven by innovation, the portioned coffee industry, which represents over USD5 billion, is growing strongly in that region. With VertuoLine, we have the right product to meet the increasing demand,” said Jean-Marc Duvoisin, CEO of Nestlé Nespresso SA.
A positive impact on the local economy
As with its production centres in Orbe and Avenches, Nespresso intends to have a long-term positive impact on the economic and social landscape of the town of Romont and the canton of Fribourg.
The new site has already enabled the creation of 125 new skilled, direct jobs, bringing the total number ofNespresso employees in Switzerland to over 2,300. More than 25 local companies participated in the construction of the site, representing 60% of its total budget.
“The decision by Nespresso to locate the new plant in Romont is a fine reward for the hard work of the country as a whole. It also encourages us in our efforts to continue promoting Switzerland’s strengths as a location for manufacturing and to boost employment,” said Johann Schneider-Ammann, Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs.
“The inauguration of this new Nespresso centre of excellence is a moment of joy and pride, which Fribourg citizens can wholeheartedly celebrate. It confirms that Fribourg is an attractive economic location for international industrial companies,” said Beat Vonlanthen, State Councillor and Minister of Economic Affairs and Employment at the Canton of Fribourg.
“Nespresso’s arrival has given our region confidence in its economic future again,” said Roger Brodard, Mayor of Romont.
First LEED® Gold certified production centre in Switzerland
Romont is the first production centre in Switzerland, and thus the first factory for Nestlé in Switzerland as well, to achieve the LEED® Gold certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). This certification not only covers the energy- and water-efficiency of an industrial building, it also weighs aspects such as employees’ health and wellbeing at the workplace, and infrastructure for environmentally friendly mobility. Some examples of the various initiatives carried out by Nespresso to meet the LEED® requirements include the use of 20% recycled construction materials and an 18% decrease of the site’s energy consumption thanks to heat recovery from the roasters, triple glazing and the use of LED lighting.
The LEED® certification extends Nespresso’s sustainability commitments and forms part of its global sustainability strategy, The Positive Cup.
A Swiss company with global reach, Nespresso chose to establish its third production centre in Romont due to the Swiss excellence and know-how, the solid and reliable infrastructure and a skilled workforce, all strategic factors that guarantee the quality that Nespresso stands for.
Facts and figures about the Nespresso Production Centre in Romont
• Third Nespresso production centre in Switzerland, after Orbe (2002) and Avenches (2008) – worldwide production in Switzerland
• Investment in Romont: CHF 300 million
• Total investment in production facilities in Switzerland since 2002: CHF 1.1 billion
• Total site area: 11 hectares (15 football fields)
• Building’s surface area: 21,000 m2
• Construction duration: 2 years
• Maximum building height: 40 metres
• Over 3200 people worked on the construction
• 25,000 m3 of concrete, 35,000 m2 of façades, 500 km of electric cables, 70 km of pipes and ventilation ducts, 2400m of rails
• Current number of Nespresso employees on the site: 125
• Production of classic and VertuoLine capsules
• First LEED® Gold certified production centre in Switzerland, first Nestlé LEED®certified production centre in Switzerland
