Coca-Cola Belgium celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Research & Development Centre in Anderlecht on Wednesday evening, with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever (N-VA) joining to mark the occasion.
During the event, the Prime Minister took part in a taste test, identifying three out of six beverages. He also paid tribute to Coca-Cola's operations in his home country.
"We should be proud that one of Coca-Cola’s largest research divisions has called our country home for 25 years. Belgium has a strong reputation for innovation, and we remain committed to growth and progress," De Wever stated.
The Anderlecht R&D Centre first opened its doors in 2000. Over the past quarter-century, it has developed thousands of new products, packaging solutions, and processes for over 120 countries and two billion consumers across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Coca-Cola has invested €30 million into the facility over the last 25 years to drive innovation.
"A key mission for the Brussels R&D Centre over the years has been creating beverages with reduced sugar content and developing smart packaging solutions to help minimise waste and emissions," explained Sarah Botterman, who leads the R&D team in Brussels.
"Together with our partners, we research, test, and experiment until we arrive at the right ideas and products," she added.
