Nestlé Australia has invested A$30m ($18.8m) to integrate digital and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities at its KitKat factory in Campbellfield, Victoria.
In a statement, the company announced that its investment in technology aims to “improve” the wafer and expand production capacity, though it will also result in a smaller wafer size.
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Nestlé general manager confectionery Andrew Lawrey said: “The new technology we have installed in our factory allows us to create new flavours and fillings, textures and tastes.”
As part of the investment, a new wafer oven will be introduced to “enhance” the quality of the wafer, Lawrey added.
However, due to smaller moulds compatible with the new technology, the wafer size will decrease, reducing the KitKat 4 Finger bar’s weight from 45g to 42g, he said.
The factory will also see increased automation, which is expected to improve safety.
Lawrey said: “By investing in automation, we can significantly reduce manual handling, making the job safer for our operators. We will also be able to minimise food and packaging waste.”
The KitKat Neapolitan, which was launched earlier this month, will be one of the first products produced using the new technology.
This product, featuring vanilla and strawberry flavours with a milk chocolate base, is set to hit Australian shelves this month and New Zealand retailers in February.
Besides KitKat, the Campbellfield factory, employing more than 400 people, produces various chocolate brands, including Aero, Smarties, and Milky Bar.
The investment follows a A$32m upgrade to the company’s Smithtown factory, which produces Milo, last February.
With the investment, Nestlé upgraded the Milo production line with “state-of-the-art manufacturing technology” to support increased production capacity.
In addition to Milo, the Smithtown factory produces various powdered beverages, including Nesquik and Nescafé coffee mixes.
