Nestlé Extends Learning and Insight Centre

In the UK, foods giant Nestlé has opened a £1m extension to its Insight and Learning Centre in York, featuring an Imax cinema, replica living room and working kitchen, full size convenience store, and digital media area.

The centre, which was opened in 2009, combines shopper research with digital technology to demonstrate how people behave when shopping or using Nestlé products at home. Retail clients are invited to the centre to view how the layout of shelves in their stores can be tailored to shoppers' needs.

Since the launch, the York centre has trebled in size to cover the firm's entire UK product range including coffee, cereals, pet food and waters.

Paul Grimwood, CEO and Chairman of Nestlé UK & Ireland comments: 'We are the only company in the UK to offer our retail customers strategic insight in such a state-of-the art learning environment. In the centre's first 18 months, we hosted 355 retail customer visits and generated more than £20m in incremental sales, which is why we chose to expand to incorporate Nestlé's wide range of products.'

Since 2000, Nestlé has opened Learning and Insight Centres in the US, France and Spain, and the company is currently planning to open centres in China and Italy.

Web site: www.nestle.com .