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Approximately 300 employees are expected to work at the new site. developing products tailored to a broader range of skin and hair types.
Another major component will be a human performance laboratory that will generate new data and insights into human physiology. The facility will support testing of ingestible products and contribute to the growth of Unilever’ s wellbeing portfolio.
The company’ s fragrance expertise will also play a prominent role. A dedicated Unilever Fragrance House will bring perfumers, chemists and packaging designers together from the earliest stages of development. This integrated approach reflects the company’ s increasing emphasis on sensory experiences as a key differentiator in consumer purchasing decisions.
Meanwhile, a packaging innovation studio will use real-time consumer feedback to accelerate prototype development and improve product performance across both physical and digital retail environments.
The New Haven project will eventually replace Unilever’ s existing research and development facility in Trumbull, Connecticut, which has operated since 1972. Approximately 300 employees are expected to work at the new site.
For Connecticut, the announcement represents another endorsement of the state’ s growing reputation as a centre for innovation and advanced research.
Herrish Patel, President of Unilever USA and CEO of Personal Care North America, said:“ New Haven gets us to the future faster. As the US becomes a center of gravity for Unilever, we’ re harnessing the best of American innovation to match our growth ambition here in the US and around the world.” •
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