CP Foods inaugurates research and development site in Thailand

Charoen Pokphand Foods (CP Foods) aims to increase its creation of healthy food and drink after opening a new research and development centre in Thailand.

Located north of Bangkok in Ayutthaya, the CP Foods RD Center consists of a pilot plant and a research and development building.

The company said the facility will deliver a range of nutritional foods and ingredients to consumers around the world.

Sukhawat Dansermsuk, CP Foods CEO of food business, believes the new research site will “significantly accelerate” and improve innovation to encourage the company’s researchers to achieve their full potential.

“Increasing of health conscious and food safety demands have prompted the company to plan for more healthy goods, which it will reach 30% of its new products this year, following the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” he said.

The company said it is focused on food biotechnology by applying enzymes and microorganisms to boost the quality of products. The centre is also concentrated on sustainable packaging development to minimise environmental impacts.

In the first quarter of 2019, CP Foods plans to introduce a range of ‘smart’ products, including: smart meal, vegetarian food from high-fibre grain, tofu, vegetables and other natural ingredients; smart soup, healthy soup made from 100% natural ingredients; smart sauce, a sriracha sauce made of red chili, rice vinegar and sea salt; and smart drink, a functional beverage range.

Earlier this month, CP Foods announced it is aiming for all its packaging to be reusable, recyclable, upcyclable or compostable by 2025 in Thailand and by 2030 for its overseas operations.

The company is looking to cut waste disposal to landfill and incineration by 30% by 2020 when compared to 2015’s performance. As of 2017, the firm reduced waste disposal to landfill and incineration per production unit by 9.1%.