Ingredion plans $50 million investment to upgrade Iowa plant
This marks the company’s second significant investment within a month.
USA – Ingredion Inc., an American food and beverage ingredient provider based in Westchester, Illinois, has announced that it plans to invest US$50M to upgrade its facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the company’s second such investment in a month.
Ingredion plans to upgrade the Iowa plant to bolster the production of industrial starches for the packaging and papermaking industries.
“Demand is growing for functional solutions that deliver against more stringent requirements for strength, biodegradability and recyclability across both containerboard and papermaking,” said Rob Ritchie, senior vice president of food and industrial ingredients for Latin America, the United States and Canada at Ingredion.
He emphasized Ingredion’s commitment to supporting these industries as they adapt and innovate to fulfill evolving consumer and environmental needs, such as the demand for more durable natural polymer-based food packaging.
Ritchie further noted that with enhanced capacity and more efficient production at the Cedar Rapids facility, Ingredion will be well-positioned to provide differentiated value to this expanding market.
Earlier this month, Ingredion announced a planned investment of over US$100M in its Indianapolis facility.
This investment aims to improve efficiency, modernize equipment, and install an energy cogeneration system, which will support the increased demand for texture solutions.
The Indianapolis plant is expected to maintain its leadership in supplying specialty starch-based texturizers for global customers.
The company emphasized that texture can affect everything from a food product’s appearance and mouthfeel to its taste and overall appeal.
In early January, Ingredion shut down operations at its facility in Vanscoy, Saskatchewan, which produced plant protein concentrates and flour.
The company indicated in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that this closure followed a strategic review. The Vanscoy facility was acquired by Ingredion through the purchase of Verdient Foods in November 2020.
Ingredion offers ingredient solutions for food, beverage, animal nutrition, and industrial applications, including performance-based specialty ingredients that contribute to a circular economy in the paper and packaging sectors.
Headquartered in the suburbs of Chicago, Ingredion operates in over 120 countries and employs more than 11,000 people across its global innovation centers, known as Ingredion Idea Labs.
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