Consumer goods giant Unilever on Tuesday unveiled its world’s largest ice cream factory in Taicang, a city-district under the jurisdiction of Suzhou in eastern Jiangsu province.

Unilever executives said the plant reflected “China’s speed, determination and capability”.

The factory uses digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. Thus, it is part of the “Advanced Fourth Industrial Revolution Lighthouses”, a consortium of smart manufacturing sites recognized by the World Economic Forum.

It can produce 2 million units of Wall’s, Magnum and Cornetto ice cream daily. The factory also aims to achieve carbon neutrality in two years, Han Fangjun, supply chain director for nutrition products at Unilever, said during a video conference call.

“Today’s factory unveiling represents… China’s unprecedented speed, China’s resolve and China’s capability, while carrying heavy symbolic significance for the ice cream market in China and around the world. the world,” Han said.

The Wall Ice Cream Factory in Taicang is the world’s first flagship ice cream factory. It is also the second “flagship factory” in China after Hefei production base.

AI-powered sales forecasting models, which leverage social listening across various platforms, enable accurate prediction of consumer demand so the company can meet consumer needs in near real-time.

The innovation deployment speed will be reduced to three months instead of 12 months. For example, the R&D team uses 3D printing to model packaging samples and develops new nozzles approximately 80% faster than the time it takes to develop a typical stainless steel component.

Other technology highlights include an all-new single-read tracing application that enables end-to-end chain traceability and direct delivery of products to customers.

China has become the largest consumer market for Magnum and Cornetto. As the COVID-19 pandemic boosts people’s desire to eat ice cream at home, the company aims to develop unique products that pamper the taste buds of Chinese people, said Benny Xu, general manager of ice cream. for Unilever North Asia.

They (Chinese customers) prefer flavors that are not too sweet or oily…(value) quality and healthy raw materials as well as diverse and green packaging, he said. “At the same time, e-commerce consumption is growing rapidly.”

Ice cream was not a popular treat at home until the pandemic hit, when locked-down consumers sought out comfort foods, according to a report on China’s FMCG landscape published last year by the consulting firms Bain and Kantar Worldpanel.

“Now people are buying ice cream at record prices,” said Jason Yu, managing director of Kantar Worldpanel China and a seasoned retail expert.

“In this case, the pandemic-inspired new behavior, combined with a long-term shift to premium products, is driving record sales for this category.”

In addition to adopting smart tools to increase efficiency and achieve flexible and fully automated production, the site is also a pioneer in sustainable factory practices, capable of reducing energy consumption by 14% and water and reduce carbon emissions by 83%.

The energy management system collects and monitors consumption data daily, identifying areas where it can still make improvements.