Major investment delivered for Blommer Chocolate’s Chicago R&D site
A key strategic investment has been made by Blommer Chocolate Company, as it confirms a new research and development centre in Chicago, US, enhancing its technical capabilities within the region, reports Neill Barston.
According to the company, its latest lab facilities, located in the downtown area of the city, in the Merchandise Mart, are to focus on product development, concept testing, processing and ingredient research, and application development.
The positive development comes in the wake of a notable strategic decision taken in 2023 to close the company’s historic manufacturing facilities in the city, which had operated for more than 80 years.
Consequently, the company, which was acquired by Fuji in 2018, confirmed that the closure would result in a total of $100 million investment into its other operations bases around the country, including funds towards expanding the research site in Chicago.
The new owners of the business had pledged to elevate the brand, and believed the significant funding boost that was being made into the company’s future development, underlined its commitment to delivering success for the firm.
Notably, the R&D Centre includes curated spaces, equipment, and strategic staffing allows for the full scope of development, from innovative concepts to application, for Blommer Chocolate customers.
The space is also built to be super collaborative, enabling on-site customer and partner engagements, plus hosting industry community experiences. The new development labs are outfitted to enable end-to-end processing from chocolate liquor to finished product application.
Mark Okita, COO and President, welcomed the latest development in the city. He said: “The R&D Centre is a place where anyone can discuss new chocolate ideas with Blommer members, regardless of scale.
“Establishing this Center in the Mart, located in downtown Chicago, a city known for its candy culture, holds significant value. Blommer’s R&D Center will be a sweet destination for anyone with a sweet tooth.”
This 5,000ft expansion, resulting in a 10,000ft R&D Centre, comes two years after Blommer moved their HQ offices to the Merchandise Mart, and one year after the historic Chicago manufacturing plant closed.
The R&D Centre has been designed to showcase the rich history of Blommer and advance its mission to enhance research & development and elevate creative solutions in compound and chocolate technology.
Tomoki Matsumoto, CEO and Chairman added. “Blommer Chocolate Company’s new R&D Center is a hub of innovation for future chocolate technology. It brings together scientists’ passion and creativity, allowing customers to participate in developing new ideas. This center honors Blommer’s history and paves the way for next-generation chocolate products, inspiring the industry’s future”
The equipment replicates Blommer’s manufacturing production capabilities to aid in product customer sample development, innovation and new business development, plus adds analytical instrument capability. Additionally, the expansion allows for more focused customer hospitality and supports employees’ workplace wellbeing with ample room for staffing expansion needs.
“This R&D Center was designed with purpose, by scientists, to involve customers in our creative approach to critical thinking and development of novel concepts. The magic happens when the ideas come together and their output becomes inspirations for the future” says Melissa Tisoncik, VP R&D.
