Blommer said the R&D Center will focus on future development, concept testing, processing & ingredient research, and application creation.
Mark Okita, COO and president, said: “The R&D Center is a place where anyone can discuss new chocolate ideas with Blommer members, regardless of scale. Establishing this Center in the Mart, located in downtown Chicago, a city known for its candy culture, holds significant value. Blommer’s R&D Center will be a sweet destination for anyone with a sweet tooth.”
Rich history
The R&D Center is intentionally designed to showcase the rich history of Blommer and advance the company’s mission to enhance research & development and elevate creative solutions in compound and chocolate technology. A 5,000 ft2 expansion, resulting in a 10,000 ft2 R&D Center, it opens two years after Blommer moved their HQ offices to the Merchandise Mart district of Chicago and one year after the historic Chicago manufacturing plant closed.
“Blommer Chocolate Company's new R&D Center is a hub of innovation for future chocolate technology. It brings together scientists' passion and creativity, allowing customers to participate in developing new ideas.
“This center honours Blommer's history and paves the way for next-generation chocolate products, inspiring the industry's future,” said Tomoki Matsumoto, CEO and chairman.
The space is also built to be “super collaborative, enabling on-site customer and partner engagements, plus hosting industry community experiences”.
Development labs
The new development labs are outfitted to enable end-to-end processing from chocolate liquor to finished product application.
Anthony Myers
A company spokesperson said the equipment replicates Blommer’s manufacturing production capabilities to aid in product customer sample development, innovation, and new business development, and it also adds analytical instrument capability.
Additionally, the expansion allows for more focused customer hospitality and supports employees’ workplace wellbeing with ample room for staffing expansion needs.
About Blommer
Founded in 1939, Blommer Chocolate Company is a cocoa processor and ingredient chocolate supplier in North America. The company provides comprehensive business solutions for domestic and international customers of all sizes in the confectionery, baking, and dairy industries. Among Blommer’s core competencies are cocoa bean processing, chocolate manufacturing, commodity risk management, and product and process R&D. The company is a leader in advancing sustainable cocoa farming as a founding member of the World Cocoa Foundation and through its privately managed farmer programmes in Cote d'Ivoire and Ecuador.
