Nestlé is set to increase production capacity at its Nescafé Dolce Gusto plant in Schwerin, Germany, as the facility takes on additional manufacturing responsibilities within the group’s production network.

Opened in 2014, the Schwerin facility currently employs around 350 people, including 18 trainees. It operates ten filling lines and eight packaging lines, producing 28 Nescafé Dolce Gusto capsule varieties for a range of international markets.

From 2027, the site is expected to produce around 2.3 billion coffee capsules annually, up from its current output of approximately 1.8 billion. The increase represents a rise of around 28%, or an additional 500 million capsules per year.

The expansion will also create approximately 50 new roles, with recruitment due to begin from 1 October 2026 across production, engineering and logistics.

To support the higher production volumes, three of the factory’s ten production lines will move from a three-shift to a four-shift operating model. The new positions will include machine and plant operators, mechatronics technicians, electricians and warehouse employees.

Alexander von Maillot, CEO of Nestlé Germany, said the expansion reflected the company’s confidence in the performance of the Schwerin site and its workforce.

“Schwerin has developed into a key production site within our international network in recent years, and we see further potential here,” he added. “This expansion will strengthen the site's competitiveness and future viability.”

Plant manager Thomas Kolodzinsky said the additional volumes would create new employment opportunities in Schwerin and the surrounding region.

Nestlé said it invests between €60 million and €90 million annually in the modernisation and development of its manufacturing sites.

The company also highlighted sustainability measures at the Schwerin facility, including the use of electricity from renewable energy sources and coffee sourced through the Nescafé Plan. Coffee beans are roasted, ground and processed on site.

Nestlé has also reduced the wall thickness of its Dolce Gusto capsules by 20% in an effort to lower the amount of plastic used in packaging.

Top image: © Nestlé