New 'Nest' for Nestlé
Published:Thursday | June 9, 2016 | 12:00 AMKeisha Hill
Nestlé Jamaica is about to construct a new corporate office and distribution centre on more than 6.3 acres of land in St Catherine.
The office complex will enhance the productivity of their employees and the fully equipped, state-of-the-art distribution centre, will allow for future expansion.
This development will also enable the company to fulfil some of its strategic objectives through an expansion of its delivery channels beyond the Kingston Metropolitan Region, thereby significantly increasing Nestlé's distribution and marketability in a targeted manner, while simultaneously providing opportunities for the growth and development of its employees and the community.
NESTLÉ GRATEFUL
According to Jurg Blaser, Nestlé Jamaica's country manager, the company is grateful that as they celebrate 150 years, they can show their commitment to Jamaica by breaking ground for what will become the company's future 'nest'.
"During the many years and still today, our distribution centre was situated in Bogwalk, adjacent to the factory. Historically, this made a lot of sense as the major part of our products were manufactured in Bybrook," Blaser said.
"However, over the last decade, our growth was increasingly generated by imported products and the idea of having a logistic footprint closer to the port and the major consumption centre of the Corporate Area came up strongly," he added.
The distribution centre, a 6,000-square metre building, will be equipped with the latest material-handling equipment and warehouse management system.
There will be a large workshop where the Nestlé professional department will prepare and repair Nescafé coffee machines.
The structure will be a two-storey building facing the Mandela Highway. The sales, marketing, customers services and accounts departments will be housed at the new location as well as training facilities.
Each floor will host a hub and a centrally located informal meeting space. The ground floor will house two kitchens, one specifically designed for the consumer relationship team to carry out product tastings, cooking sessions and trainings, while the second will be for the Nestlé professional department to engage with chefs and culinary experts.
A social block, comprising a canteen, fitness centre, aftercare centre, lactation facilities and a staff shop complete the package. The entire building will be wheelchair accessible with the inclusion of an elevator and ramps.
The project, located at the corner of the Mandela Highway and Tom Cringle Drive, should be completed by April of 2017. Fredrick Moe's Cascade Group will construct the facility.