FRANCE – Acacia gum specialist Alland & Robert has announced it will invest €11 million (about US$12.82 million) to increase production capacity at its production site in Saint-Aubin-sur-Gaillon, France.

Acacia gum is a natural, plant-based, and health-haloed ingredient that is used in thousands of everyday products.

In the food industry, acacia gum is used to generate texture, emulsify and stabilize.

It is also widely used in winemaking, with recent studies by the company demonstrating its mechanism for preserving wine’s color while reducing sedimentation.

Acacia gum can also be leveraged to formulate vegetarian and vegan products, which consumers are increasingly searching for today.

According to Alland & Robert, this investment will pay for the installation of a fourth production line at the site.

The new line according to Alland & Robert will increase the factory’s production capacity by around 9,000 tonnes per year.

The site currently processes around 20,000 tonnes of acacia gum each year, so the expansion project will increase overall production capacity at the site by 45%.

Construction at the new site will start in early 2021, with the firm claiming that the new facility should be fully operational by the end of 2022.

Alland & Robert says the investment in further capacity expansion is in line with the company’s objective of meeting growing demand for acacia gum from customers around the world.

This new investment follows a €3 million already invested in the company to improve existing production facilities.

Most of Alland & Robert’s acacia gum is sourced from sub-saharan Africa where the company says it harvested by hand in sub-Saharan Africa in ways that support ethical and sustainable development. 

To further promote sustainability in the industry, Alland & Robert recently launched the initiative “Let’s plant acacias together,” which seeks to tackle climate change and protect livelihoods in the African Sahel.

A sustainable production of acacia gum will ensure that Alland & Robert will be able to supply its rising number of clients with high quality gum.

The company reports it is gaining markets around the world and is now exporting natural gums to more than 70 countries.

For 2020, the company estimates its turnover will increase by approximately 8 percent. It was €45 million (US$52.8 million) in 2019.

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