NEW YORK (AP) — Kraft Foods Inc. has opened its new gum and candy research center in Switzerland, where it will develop new products for top candy brands such as Trident.
The company said Tuesday it has spent more than $14 million on the European Kraft Foods Gum and Candy Research & Development Center in Eysins.
The company, based in Northfield, Ill., said the global gum market has grown by nearly a quarter in five years and is now worth $23 billion. Gum is considered one of the fastest-growing parts of the candy industry.
The Swiss center will collaborate with the Kraft Foods Global Gum & Candy Center of Excellence, based in Whippany, N.J.
Kraft now has 15 research and development centers around the world for beverages, cheese, chocolate, coffee and more.
Kraft bought British candymaker Cadbury PLC in February for $19.5 billion, a move that made it one of the world’s largest candy makers.