After its success in the industry this past year, Blue Diamond Growers has started to fully develop its snack food products line, starting with a new research facility.

The company has announced the opening of the Almond Innovation Center in its Sacramento, Calif. headquarters. Mark Jansen, Blue Diamond president and ceo, says the center is a big step for Blue Diamond, which has spearheaded major innovations in the almond sector.

“We are expanding our Sacramento headquarters to include the world’s only research center dedicated to designing cutting-edge almond products,” he says. ““The new facility will be a showcase for initiating new almond product concepts for our consumer business and for the most innovative global food companies.”

The new innovation center

In addition to the new research center, Blue Diamond, and the almond industry in general, have made significant strides in the past year. The nut as a global ingredient has increased 35 percent in sales, and has remained in first place as the leading nut in new food products worldwide.

For its success, Blue Diamond has been named the recipient of the Powering Innovation Capstone Award at Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization’s annual Salute to the New Industry luncheon. The Capstone Awards recognizes and celebrates leadership and excellence in driving growth in the Sacramento region.

Founded in 1912, Blue Diamond is the world's largest almond processing and marketing company. Owned by over half of the state’s almond growers, the company produces more than 80 percent of the world’s almonds.