Nestlé Accelerates Protein Innovation with New Facility in Switzerland
Nestlé is making a strategic move to strengthen its position in the growing alternative protein market with the opening of a new research and development facility in Singen, Germany. The new hub will focus on the development and scale-up of plant-based proteins and other nutritious protein alternatives, signifying the company’s ongoing commitment to meeting evolving consumer preferences.
The facility will serve as an extension of Nestlé’s Lausanne-based research center in Switzerland, which already plays a key role in driving the company’s global nutrition, health, and wellness innovation. With this latest addition, Nestlé is positioning itself to enhance formulation speed and reduce time-to-market for new protein-based products.
One of the key features of the new facility is its pilot-scale production capabilities, which allow it to replicate factory-scale food processing methods like extrusion and baking. This not only streamlines internal R&D but also supports collaboration with startups and academic institutions focused on novel protein ingredients and technologies.
Stefan Palzer, Nestlé’s Chief Technology Officer, emphasized the company’s ambition to deliver high-quality, nutritious protein alternatives. “This new facility provides us with the infrastructure to rapidly test and scale up new recipes using a variety of protein sources, ranging from plant-based to precision fermentation,” he said.
The launch reflects broader shifts in consumer demand, with plant-based and alternative proteins becoming a major area of growth in the food and beverage sector. According to industry estimates, the global market for alternative proteins could reach over $290 billion by 2035, driven by increasing health, environmental, and ethical considerations.
Nestlé’s new Singen site will also help reduce the environmental footprint of product development by enabling more sustainable processes at the pre-commercial stage. As part of the company’s product development strategy, the facility will play a vital role in producing more climate-friendly food products at scale.
For FMCG stakeholders, the launch signals Nestlé’s continued focus on innovation pipelines aligned with health-conscious and sustainability-driven consumption trends. The investment reflects a broader transformation in how multinational food producers are responding to category disruption and consumer demand for better-for-you alternatives.