Nikhil Chopra

With over 19 years at Nestlé, I lead the Application Group (R&D) for Infant & Toddler Nutrition and Maternal Supplements. I drive industrialization of innovative products — including UHT RTD nutrition beverages — while ensuring food safety, regulatory compliance, and cost-efficient manufacturing. My expertise spans product development, ingredient science across proteins, dairy ingredients, lipids, PUFAs, probiotics, HMOs, prebiotics, and whey powders, along with budget forecasting and cross-functional project management.

I am passionate about translating scientific concepts into successful commercial products, partnering with global teams to deliver data-driven nutritional solutions that positively impact lives.

Head, Application Group (R&D) — Infant & Toddler Nutrition and Maternal Supplements at Nestlé India Limited (2023-01 – Present)

• Lead R&D for Infant Formula, Follow-up Formula, Growing Up Milks, UHT RTD nutrition beverages, and Maternal Supplements, driving innovation and product quality.
• Oversee industrialization of approved I&R projects, ensuring seamless scale-up from R&D to manufacturing within target timelines.
• Drive process improvements delivering ~15% efficiency gains and up to 10% cost reduction while maintaining food safety and quality standards.
• Ensure continuous production of legally compliant, TNR-approved products, monitoring ingredient and product composition across all batches.
• Validate recipes and manage first/second industrial batch registrations at headquarters and market levels.
• Maintain product files and manufacturing dossiers to support quality control and regulatory audits.
• Guarantee commercial manufacturing readiness and post-launch product robustness, enabling successful market launches and customer satisfaction.
• Facilitate collaboration between factories and headquarters, and manage change control for manufacturing flow sheets and equipment to ensure minimal disruption.
• Own budget forecasting and resource planning for R&D and industrialization initiatives.
• Apply deep ingredient science expertise — proteins, dairy ingredients, lipids, PUFAs, probiotics, HMOs, prebiotics, and whey powders — to optimize formulations and product performance.
• Provide strategic recommendations on portfolio management and manufacturing setup optimization.

Head, Application Group (R&D) — Infant & Toddler Nutrition at Nestlé India Limited (2019-01 – 2023-12)

• Led R&D for Infant Formula, Follow-up Formula, Growing Up Milks, and RTD products, driving innovation and enhancing product quality.
• Ensured continuous compliant, TNR-approved production; validated recipes and managed industrial batch registrations at headquarters and market levels.
• Guaranteed commercial manufacturing readiness and facilitated collaboration between factories and headquarters for smooth, successful product launches.
• Monitored product and ingredient composition compliance, and provided strategic recommendations on portfolio management and manufacturing optimization.

Manager, Application Group (R&D) — Infant & Toddler Nutrition at Nestlé India Limited (2013-01 – 2019-12)

• Managed R&D activities for Infant Formula, Follow-up Formula, Growing Up Milks, and RTD products.
• Supported ingredient science initiatives, including probiotic, HMO, and DHA/ARA additions.
• Contributed to the successful regulatory changeover for Infant Nutrition products, 2020.

Process Specialist — Infant Cereals at Nestlé India Limited (2012-01 – 2013-12)

• Developed daily production plans and schedules; inspected machinery to optimize productivity and cost efficiency.
• Managed team resources against KPIs to drive continuous process improvement.
• Supported ISO 22000 and ISO 18001 (OHSAS) certification through quality and EHS initiatives, audits, and root-cause analysis.

Production Executive — Infant Nutrition at Nestlé India Limited (2007-01 – 2012-12)

• Resolved interpersonal conflicts, fostering a positive and cohesive team environment.

MBA / PGDM in HR & Industrial Relations – Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning (2009-12)

B.Tech in Dairy Technology – National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal (2007-12)