Kerry opens Jakarta office and RD&A facility

Ireland-headquartered food company Kerry has opened an expanded office and Research, Development & Applications (RD&A) facility in RDTX Place, South Jakarta, to accelerate sustainable food innovation across Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

The 1200 m² space features two dedicated flavour creation and application labs for sweet and savoury applications, a fully equipped sensory suite, and a collaborative Co-Creation Lab for customers to work alongside the company’s scientists, flavourists and application experts.

“This facility is a major step forward in our journey as a trusted innovation partner in Indonesia,” said Janeley Haryono, General Manager of Kerry Indonesia. “With customers collaborating directly with us, we’re enabling faster innovation and delivering solutions that are not only healthier but rooted in local preferences and ingredients. Our investment is in keeping with the Indonesian Government’s ‘Making Indonesia 4.0’ initiative that emphasises the importance of the F&B sector in driving the nation towards becoming one of the world’s top 10 economies by 2030.”

Indonesia’s food and beverage sector contributed 7.15% to GDP in the first half of 2024 and is projected to grow by 4.53% by year-end. With a population expected to exceed 281 million by 2025, the country’s demand for innovative, nutritious and locally relevant food solutions remains strong.

Siddharth Rastogi, Retail, Meat and Marketing Lead at Kerry Southeast Asia, said, “Indonesia’s central location enables greater proximity to our key markets — allowing us to be closer to our regional customers to develop solutions together that are agile and relevant to rapidly shifting market dynamics. We’re excited to be a hub of food innovation excellence for the industry, helping to shape the future of food and beverage in the region.”

Kerry’s growing presence in Indonesia includes manufacturing plants in Cikarang and Karawang. The €30 million (AU$47.5m) Karawang facility, opened in 2023, is Kerry’s largest greenfield investment in Southeast Asia supporting food and beverage customers in all food categories, including beverage, snacks and bakery.

The new South Jakarta facility reflects the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility. The site, currently under LEED Gold certification review, includes smart energy systems, daylight-responsive lighting, and use of energy-efficient and sustainable material, with construction waste management implemented throughout the build phase.

“Kerry’s new RD&A facility marks a significant milestone in Ireland’s economic engagement with Indonesia,” said Ambassador of Ireland to Indonesia H.E. Pádraig Francis, who was present at the opening. “It reflects a shared vision of innovation, collaboration and sustainability. Kerry’s growing presence supports Indonesia’s aspirations in health, nutrition and industrial development, and stands as part of a proud legacy of Irish companies contributing to inclusive, long-term progress in the region.”

Image caption: Kerry leaders with Ireland’s Ambassador to Indonesia, H.E. Pádraig Francis.