Nestlé to invest ฿23B in AI-driven Nescafé factory in Thailand

What's the deal? NestléDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → will invest 23 billion baht to build a new Nescafé factory in Thailand's Samut Prakan province, alongside a distribution centre serving several of its product lines. The plant will produce instant coffee, mixed instant coffee, and ready-to-drink canned coffee, with operations slated to begin in the second half of 2028.

Why here? Samut Prakan sits in a strategic logistics zone near transport networks, ports, airports, and major urban markets. Nestlé said the location decision followed an assessment of raw materials, workforce, technology, and both domestic and export demand.

What's the endgame? The factory is designed to strengthen the Nescafé business in Thailand and support exports, positioning the country as a regional production base. Making multiple coffee formats under one roof lets the brand manage its portfolio more flexibly across market segments.

The AI angle: The plant will use advanced automation, robotics, and an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS). Nestlé said AI will improve consistency, cut production errors, tighten recipe control, manage energy use, and predict machine faults before they cause stoppages.

What it means for suppliers: The factory is expected to source about 4.3 billion baht in local materials each year. Nestlé has been a major buyer of Thai robusta beans for more than four decades and has expanded cultivation to the Mae Sot district in Tak province.

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