Nestlé to invest US$383M in Brazilian nutrition business

Nestlé has announced an investment of approximately US$383 million (CHF 310 million) into its nutrition and health business in Brazil through 2028. A central component of this plan is the construction of a new, highly automated infant formula manufacturing facility in Ituiutaba, Minas Gerais.

The new plant, which is expected to begin operations in the second quarter of 2028, will utilize advanced digital and automated technologies to enhance manufacturing efficiency, product quality, and food safety. It will serve both the Brazilian market and export demands, creating roughly 100 jobs. This will be Nestlé’s second infant nutrition factory in the country, complementing its existing hub in Araçatuba, São Paulo.

The broader investment program also includes upgrades to the Araçatuba facility and an expansion of key ingredient production. Nestlé expects whey output to increase by 15% by 2029 to strengthen the local supply chain. Jeff Hamilton, CEO of Nestlé Zone Americas, noted that Brazil remains a strategic market for the company’s nutrition category, which accounts for approximately 20% of its global sales.