Tetra Pak opens new Product Development Centre in France for food and beverage powder producers

Tetra Pak has officially opened its new Product Development Centre (PDC) for Powder Process and Technology in Cholet, France, designed to accelerate innovation and optimise processes for powder-formulated products.

At 340m², the new powder PDC features a fully equipped pilot plant with modular production lines and the latest powder-handling technologies. It also includes a dedicated testing laboratory to ensure quality, compliance and optimisation. Together, these facilities enable food and beverage powder producers to:

• Validate recipes and processes before industrial roll-out, reducing the risk of costly errors and enhancing product quality.

• Cut development costs and product loss, while increasing yield and accelerating time-to-market.

• Trial sensitive or high-value ingredients under near-identical conditions to full-scale production, minimising waste and preventing costly downtime.

• Meet sustainability targets through more efficient, resource-conscious processing methods.

From raw material characterisation and formulation through to pilot-scale simulation and industrial scale-up, the facility supports manufacturers across the full innovation cycle, from prototype to shelf. With a library of more than 6,000 powder samples and specialist testing instruments, the laboratory supports in-depth evaluation of powder properties and behaviours across applications, ranging from dairy and beverages to ice cream, whey protein and functional nutrition.

The pilot plants’ modular set-up means trials can be configured to each customer’s specific requirements, offering flexibility and agility. This not only accelerates industrial roll-out but also minimises downtime and product waste. To extend access, every trial can also be followed remotely via high-definition livestreaming with real-time interaction and detailed post-trial reporting. Customers receive recordings, technical data and product samples wherever they are in the world.

The PDC also showcases the latest powder-handling technologies, including the Tetra Pak® Air Jet Cleaning System for Powder, which improves cleaning efficiency and ensure optimal use of costly ingredients and Tetra Pak® Production Control Ignition User Interface, a single, scalable user interface to simplify production control and drive operational responsiveness. These innovations, combined with deep powder processing expertise and flexible infrastructure, allow the PDC to support faster, more confident product development.

Charles Brand, Executive Vice President for Processing Solutions & Equipment at Tetra Pak, comments: “Powder-formulated products are now part of everyday diets, with demand soaring for fortified drinks, specialised nutrition and protein supplements. Consumers want healthier, more convenient and sustainable options – but also greater choice and quality. For producers, this means constant innovation, rapid scale-up and flawless execution. Our new PDC is designed to help them achieve exactly that.”

Francois-Xavier Barbey, Business Stream Director, Powder Process and Technologies PSE Food Solutions adds: “With advanced technologies, modular configuration opportunities and deep process expertise, we help customers validate recipes, optimise production and scale up quickly. Whether reducing product loss, preserving quality in sensitive formulations or speeding up time-to-market, the PDC gives powder producers a clear competitive edge.”

The new powder PDC forms part of Tetra Pak’s product development centre ecosystem, in which food producers can achieve food properties and functionalities, trial different final product formulations, and develop brand or product identity to create an effective go-to-market strategy. By linking expertise and facilities across multiple centres, Tetra Pak helps customers accelerate innovation and reduce risk, giving them a powerful scale-up advantage.