Nestlé SA on March 25 said it opened a research and development center in Beijing and a system technology hub in Shenzhen, China.

The Swiss food giant will use the sites to create new products and collaborate with local partners and suppliers.

The R&D center will create new food and drink products primarily for Chinese consumers, but it will also develop products for other Asian consumers. The Beijing site, which is equipped with prototyping and packaging facilities, employs over 40 R&D specialists and houses Nestlé's food safety institute in China.

Meanwhile, the system tech hub in Shenzhen serves as an extension of Nestlé's other facility in Orbe, Switzerland. The Shenzhen site will work on new ideas for beverage systems and other technologies relevant to its global beverage businesses.

Nestlé did not disclose the cost of its investment in developing the facilities.