Uni-President Enterprises Corp, Taiwan's leading food company, said Friday it plans to invest $1.88 billion in China to build 17 new plants by 2013.

Uni-President, which currently runs 14 factories in China, said the new facilities will produce more instant noodles and beverages to meet rising demand, a company official said.

Uni-President is the third biggest food and drinks provider in China and its Chinese subsidiary is among the main revenue drivers.

The company has said its revenue in China rose 42 percent in the first half of 2011 from the previous year.

The group, one of the local pioneer investors in China, has been rapidly expanding on the mainland in food manufacturing, retail operations and trading businesses.