More than 17 million infants are born each year in China, per an Abbott press release, and rising incomes and a growing middle class have created increased demand for high-quality nutrition products. To meet the needs of this dynamic market, Abbott anticipates launching a number of new product innovations over the next three years across the pediatric nutrition category in China.

"This facility will play a key role in providing science-based, innovative nutritional products to infants and children while helping to build a healthier future for China,"

said John Landgraf, executive vice president, Nutritional Products, Abbott. "Building a strong local manufacturing base will position us to better provide Chinese parents the same high quality products they rely on today, even faster."

Products made at the new Abbott manufacturing facility in China will contain the same quality ingredients and undergo the same testing standards as Abbott products made at the company's other facilities around the world. The plant, when operational in 2013, will employ approximately 300 people.

With the addition of the new facility in Jiaxing, Abbott will have opened six manufacturing and R&D facilities in its nutrition and pharmaceuticals businesses in the Asia-Pacific region during the past three years, including three in China.

From the August 23, 2011, Prepared Foods' Daily News.