Kerry Group opens expanded office and RD&A facility in South Jakarta

The expansion is the next phase of the organisation’s plans for growth within the south-east Asian market.

Food manufacturer Kerry Group has today (24 July) announced the official opening of an expanded office and a new research, development and applications (RD&A) facility in South Jakarta, Indonesia. 

The 1,200 sq m space, which includes a flavour creation and application lab, sensory suite and collaborative co-creation lab, is the next phase of the company’s strategy for growth and innovation in the south-east Asian region. 

Kerry Group, founded in 1972, is headquartered in Tralee, Co Kerry and is a taste and nutrition partner for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical sectors.  

The Ambassador of Ireland to Indonesia, HE Pádraig Francis, who was present at the official event, said: “The opening of Kerry’s new RD&A lab marks a significant milestone in Ireland’s economic engagement with Indonesia. 

“It reflects a shared vision of innovation, collaboration and sustainability. Kerry’s growing presence supports Indonesia’s aspirations in health, nutrition and industrial development and stands as part of a proud legacy of Irish companies contributing to inclusive, long-term progress in the region.”

Indonesia’s food and beverage industry is a major contributor to the region’s economy, contributing 7.15pc to the country’s GDP in the first half of 2024. According to CRIF Asia, the industry remains “stable, buoyed by growing domestic consumption and changing consumer preferences”.

Janeley Haryono, the general manager for Kerry Indonesia said: “This facility is a major step forward in our journey as a trusted innovation partner in Indonesia. With customers collaborating directly with us, we’re enabling faster innovation and delivering solutions that are not only healthier, but rooted in local preferences and ingredients. 

“Our investment is in keeping with the Indonesian government’s ‘Making Indonesia 4.0’ initiative that emphasises the importance of the food and beverage sector in driving the nation towards becoming one of the world’s Top 10 economies by 2030.”

Earlier this year, Kerry Group announced a new Digital Centre of Excellence to be established at its Global Innovation Centre in Naas, Co Kildare. 

Supported by a €7.5m grant from Enterprise Ireland, activities at the new centre will focus on enhancing business performance and productivity through digital enablement initiatives in areas such as R&D, commercialisation, operations and global business services.

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