Diamond Foods announced an investment in a state-of-the-art 7,000 square foot innovation center adjacent to the company’s Salem, Oregon-based Kettle Brand facility. When the new facility opens in early 2015, it will serve as home to the newly formed Diamond Foods’ Innovation Team and act as the hub for all of Diamond’s new product development efforts across the company’s brands, including Diamond of California, Emerald, Pop Secret and Kettle Brand. 

The innovation center will include a state-of-the-art R&D kitchen and lab, allowing production of short-run product samples and simulation of large-scale preparation processes, a sensory evaluation center for real-time product testing with consumers and a concepting room.