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Reckitt Plans $600 Million U.S. Expansion Across R&D and Manufacturing
Reckitt is investing up to $600 million in a multi-year transformation of its U.S. operations, bringing together commercial, research and development capabilities while expanding domestic manufacturing capacity. The investment spans facilities in New Jersey and North Carolina and is designed to support innovation, consumer access and supply resilience.
The move gives Reckitt a larger platform to develop and manufacture healthcare and consumer products closer to the U.S. market. The company says the investments will help it respond faster to changing consumer needs while strengthening the reliability of its supply network.
A major part of the plan is the development of a new science and innovation center in New Jersey. The facility will bring advanced R&D capabilities closer to Reckitt’s commercial and operational teams, creating a more integrated environment for product development.
The center is expected to become a global germ protection hub within Reckitt’s R&D network. Its scientific focus will include disinfection, microbiology, surface care, laundry care and personal care, with Lysol among the key brands expected to benefit from the expanded capabilities.
For Reckitt, the integration of science and commercial expertise is intended to shorten the journey from product concept to commercialization. Bringing these functions together can allow teams to identify consumer needs earlier, test ideas more efficiently and move promising products toward launch with fewer gaps between R&D and the market.
The investment also reflects the growing importance of scientific capabilities in consumer healthcare. Products in areas such as disinfection, respiratory health and personal care increasingly require a combination of consumer insight, formulation expertise, regulatory knowledge and manufacturing flexibility.
North Carolina represents the other major pillar of the investment. Reckitt has doubled its initial investment in its state-of-the-art OTC manufacturing facility, making the total planned investment part of the broader U.S. transformation reach up to $600 million.
Once operational, the North Carolina facility will become Reckitt’s largest OTC manufacturing site in the United States. Additional funding will expand production capacity for Mucinex tablets and liquids and increase production volumes for Move Free.
The facility is scheduled to open in the first half of 2027. Beyond increasing near-term production, its expanded physical footprint is intended to provide greater manufacturing flexibility and room for additional capabilities as product demand changes.
This capacity expansion is particularly relevant for OTC healthcare products, where consistent product availability depends on reliable manufacturing and distribution networks. By increasing domestic capacity, Reckitt is positioning the U.S. supply chain to handle changing demand while reducing pressure on existing manufacturing infrastructure.
The company currently employs more than 4,000 people across seven U.S. manufacturing sites and three science and innovation centers. The latest investments therefore represent an expansion of an existing operational footprint rather than a standalone U.S. entry strategy.
The strategy also connects innovation with supply resilience. Instead of treating R&D, commercial operations and manufacturing as separate priorities, Reckitt is investing across the product lifecycle, from scientific development and consumer understanding through to large-scale production.
For competitors in consumer health and OTC products, the move highlights the value of having strong local R&D and manufacturing capabilities in a major healthcare marke. It also shows how established brands are investing in infrastructure to support future product development rather than focusing only on current product demand.
Reckitt’s U.S. transformation will be implemented in phases, with the New Jersey science and innovation center and the expanded North Carolina manufacturing facility forming the central elements. Together, the projects are expected to strengthen the company’s ability to innovate, manufacture and respond to consumers from within the U.S.
Reckitt will also showcase its North American business at its first U.S. Reckitt Focus On event on November 19. Company leaders, including North America President Jérôme Lemaire, are expected to present the business and its priorities as the company moves forward with this investment program.
About Reckitt:
Reckitt is a global consumer health and hygiene company behind brands including Lysol, Mucinex and Move Free. Its portfolio spans health, hygiene and personal care products sold across markets worldwide.
References:
https://www.towardshealthcare.com/insights/healthcare-supply-chain-management-market-sizing