Nestle opens Rs 360-cr culinary factory in Karnataka

"The plant specialises in the manufacture of culinary products and this investment reaffirms our confidence in our brands and people," Nestle Chief Executive Officer Paul Bulcke said in a statement.

The new plant is likely to create about 630 jobs and scale up Nestle's manufacturing presence in Karnataka. It has been built with an investment of around Rs 360 crore and will help meet the growing demands, it added.

Nestle India already operates a coffee factory at Nanjangud that processes coffee beans from South India. The company operates seven factories and employs around 6,000 people in the country. Nestle's net sales for the full year 2010 were Rs 6,254.7 crore.

Nestle's culinary range includes noodles, soups, sauces, cooking aids, coconut milk powder and Pasta under the Maggi brand. The company's shares closed at Rs 3,630.70 per share, up 1.14 per cent from the previous close on the Bombay Stake Exchange.