Covance, Kellogg Team Up for Food Safety

PRINCETON, N.J.Covance, Inc. announced the creation of a new nutritional chemistry and food safety laboratory in Battle Creek, Mich., which will support clients in the region across a wide range of testing, including a significant expansion of the companys microbiological food-safety testing capability.

Covance will invest approximately $14 million to acquire and renovate a 30,000-square- foot building that is expected to be operational in the fourth quarter 2010. The lab will be affiliated with the new National Center for Food Protection (NCFP) in Battle Creek.

In addition, Covance entered into a 7-year, $42-million strategic services contract with Kellogg Company to consolidate much of the food company's analytical chemistry, microbiology and stability testing with Covance. Kellogg's will be an anchor client in this new facility.

This strategic alliance with Covance is a natural evolution of a trust-based relationship that has grown over 30 years," said Margaret Bath, corporate vice president, Research, Quality, and Technology, Kellogg Company. "This relationship enables Kellogg's to work with a high-quality laboratory testing partner while we focus on our core competencies in developing and producing nutritious, safe, and great-tasting products that meet our high quality standards."