Pinnacle Foods opens new R&D facility at Rutgers University in US

US-based packaged foods company Pinnacle Foods has opened a new R&D pilot plant at Rutgers University in New Jersey, its first university-affiliated pilot site.

The new R&D facility at Rutgers Food Innovation Center – North, has been designed for the company’s Duncan Hines Grocery Division, which owns leading brands such as Duncan Hines, Vlasic, Wish-Bone, Mrs. Butterworth’s and Log Cabin.

The pilot plant will enable the company to strengthen its R&D capabilities and scale up learnings for commercialisation.

It will also further support brand renovation and productivity and improve speed to market.

The USDA and FDA-inspected facility will comply with Pinnacle’s quality, safety, training and standard operating protocols.

Pinnacle Foods R&D SVP Steve Gunther said the firm is on a continuous mission to strengthen its R&D capabilities and the pilot plant is one more step in increasing its technical rigor.

"We’ll be able to execute experimental designs across our brands, studying various ingredient, process and package interactions without impacting our manufacturing facilities," Gunther added.

The pilot plant will extend the company’s relationship with the institution, which began last year through an undergraduate internship programme.

Through the new collaboration, Pinnacle will take advantage of the technologies of the university, and partner with the food science, packaging and engineering departments.

The company will also have the opportunity to sponsor specific graduate research work to benefit both student learning and the company.

Rutgers University economic development associate vice president Dr Peggy Brennan said: "This is a great opportunity for Rutgers University’s Food Innovation Center – North and students; we are very excited to partner with Pinnacle as it reinvigorates iconic brands."

The new pilot plant will enable Pinnacle to replicate existing production processes at its Grocery Division plants and conduct consumer testing. It will also enable the company to evaluate various process changes outside the plant environment and bring in equipment for testing.