The outlay is part of the €40m investment earmarked by Nestlé for the upgrade of its manufacturing facilities in Avanca and Porto.
According to the breakfast cereal giant, the new line has a production capacity of 80 cans per minute - or 130kg of snacks per hour - which will meet its needs for the next two decades.
The company has trained 14 new employees for the new line, which will manufacture Naturnes Bio NutriPuffs in 100% recyclable packaging.
Organic baby cereals
The Avanca facility will also become the brand’s global manufacturing hub for its Cerelac, Nestum and Estrelitas organic baby cereals.
The products will be supplied to the domestic market as well as more than 30 countries across the globe.
Ludovic Aujogue, business executive office of Nestlé Child Nutrition, said the organic baby food segment is still niche in Portugal but has the potential for growth.
“The organic baby food segment has a great expression in countries like the US, where it reaches 40%,” he said.
“At national level, it is still very small, with a share of up to 3% – but of which Nestlé has a 40% [share] – so we feel we also have a responsibility to make it grow.”
Nestlé Portugal has set a goal to grow the volume in the baby food market to reach around 400 tonnes per annum by the end of 2021.
