Cargill invests €20 million in Sas Van Gent instant starch facility to help food manufacturers deliver on increased consumer demand for convenience foods
(MECHELEN, Belgium) February 14th, 2019 – Cargill is investing €20 million ($22.5 million USD) in its starch production plant in Sas Van Gent, The Netherlands, to expand the instant starch capacity. The investment will support the increased consumer demand for convenience food.
Instant starch is a key ingredient in many cold prepared foods. Worldwide, the demand for the categories in which instant starch is used has increased. According to Euromonitor, retail volumes for ready meals, sauces, soups, cakes and pastries combined grew by 11 percent from 2013 to 2018, well above the growth of overall packaged food of 7 percent in the same period.
“Consumers have had to adapt their eating habits to their busier lifestyles, which has led to an increased demand for convenience food” said Denis Palacioglu, starch product line manager, Cargill in Europe. “This investment in the plant allows Cargill to deliver on the current consumer demand, and to prepare for even greater customer needs in the future”.
The project includes the construction of a new building and the installation of two new roll dryers in the Sas Van Gent production facility. High food-safety standards and hygienic process design principles are applied to ensure product quality. It is expected to go live in the summer of 2019.
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About Cargill Starches & Sweeteners Europe
Cargill Starches & Sweeteners Europe processes corn and wheat to manufacture a comprehensive collection of value-added products dedicated to the food and beverage, papermaking, corrugating, BioIndustrial, pharmaceutical, personal care and animal nutrition industries. We take a unique approach to each of these categories to enhance customer relationships and fuel sustainable growth. In the nutrition space, we focus on fiber and protein innovations, while our industrial offerings are designed to supply renewable solutions that drive value for our customers. Our portfolio of sweetness products is the largest and most diverse on the market, ranging from foundation sweeteners (glucose syrups, glucose-fructose syrups and dextroses) to low-caloric polyols and zero calorie stevia-based sweeteners. One of our core competences is to operate a reliable and sustainable supply chain, as can be demonstrated with the high quality potable alcohol we supply. Whatever the application, we help our customers thrive by delivering them valuable products and services.