Kraft Foods Inc. has opened a gum and candy research center in Switzerland, where it will develop products for top brands such as Trident.
The company said Tuesday it has spent more than $14 million on the European Kraft Foods Gum and Candy Research & Development Center in Eysins.
The company, based in Northfield, said the global gum market has grown by nearly a quarter in five years, to $23 billion. Gum is considered one of the fastest-growing parts of the candy industry.
The Swiss center will collaborate with the Kraft Foods Global Gum & Candy Center of Excellence, based in Whippany, N.J.
Kraft now has 15 research and development centers around the world for beverages, cheese, chocolate, coffee and more.
Kraft bought British candymaker Cadbury PLC in February for $19.5 billion, a move that made it one of the world’s largest candymakers.
