Strong customer demand & market potential are key drivers behind new production line
CP Kelco, a global leader of nature-based ingredient solutions, has completed a USD 60 million expansion in production capacity for its citrus fiber product line, based on strong customer demand and market potential. With this significant expansion, the company has ample capacity to support current and future customers’ citrus fiber supply needs.
The production line expansion for NUTRAVA® and KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber in the company’s facility in Matão, Brazil, increases the total capacity to approximately 5000 MT, establishing CP Kelco as a leading citrus fiber supplier to food, beverage and consumer product manufacturers worldwide. This expansion provides options to incrementally expand capacity even further in the future based on customer needs.
Launched in 2019, CP Kelco’s citrus fiber products are highly versatile and unique ingredients upcycled from citrus peels, a byproduct of the juicing industry. With the continued growth in consumer demand for clean-label, sustainable products, citrus fiber addresses the need for nature-based and easily recognisable ingredients in a variety of food, beverage and personal care products.
NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber supports dietary fiber intake and offers unique water-binding, texturising and stabilisation capabilities in a wide range of food and beverage applications, from condiments, dressings and soups to bakery goods, dairy and plant-based products. In personal care products, KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber serves as a gentle emulsifier alternative, providing stabilisation and a light skin feel to help product developers create SENSational textures, from serums to gels and luxe creams.
Premium fruit and vegetable ingredient supplier SVZ announced a strategic investment for its Belgian processing plant in Rijkevorsel. The latest in a series of global growth and sustainability-focused investments, SVZ seeks to expand the facility’s capacity to meet rising consumer demand for fruit and vegetable ingredients – while also boosting its sustainability credentials.
Growing capacity
Demand for naturally healthy, nutritious ingredients is growing as consumers become more aware of the impact what they consume has on their wellbeing. To fulfil this need, SVZ is investing in the capacity and processing technology required to process larger quantities of fruit and vegetable ingredients on-site without compromising on quality. A new pasteuriser in the plant, for example, will allow its Belgium facility to boost its puree production significantly.
This investment follows similar expansions across SVZ’s global processing plants, as the business meets this heightened demand for fruit and vegetable ingredients. In Poland, for example, the Tomaszów facility’s concentrate line has been bolstered, while SVZ’s US-based plant has not only boosted its puree line but is also investing in new automation technology to streamline the production process even further.
Sustainability first
SVZ’s investment in the Rijkevorsel plant also supports the business’ sustainability efforts – and progress towards its 100 % sustainable sourcing goal. The Belgium facility has seen a massive reduction in CO2 emissions over the last two years – and this new effort will aim to build on this by further decreasing heat consumption and exploring new ways of reusing expended energy within the facility. Indeed, the new pasteuriser will reduce emissions by 19 % – a crucial step in SVZ’s journey to low carbon production.
This new investment also contributes to SVZ’s broader mission of boosting the sustainability credentials of all global processing sites. SVZ’s Spain-based plant in Almonte, for example, has been recently fitted with solar panels, and a new cold storage facility has also been constructed to reduce reliance on third party-storage and transportation. Meanwhile, SVZ’s US processing plant has focused recent investment on water treatment, so water can be cleaned and reused.
Growing better, together
“SVZ has its sights set firmly on the future,” says Pieter Spanjers, CEO at SVZ. “This new investment increases our Rijkevorsel plant’s processing capacity and capabilities to ensure future growth. We are working on an agreement that will significantly increase our sourcing capacity, and we need a facility that allows us to efficiently absorb those heightened volumes, as well as serve our customers while keeping the highest standards of quality.
“We’re passionate about creating a healthier, greener planet and we want to do our part in ensuring it for all generations. This investment will enable us to continue our mission effectively and support our customers in creating tomorrow’s food and beverage products.”
