CANADA – Bartek Ingredients has announced a 10,000 metric tonnes malic acid capacity expansion at its production facilities in Southern Ontario, Canada, to be completed in the first quarter of 2021.

The Canadian ingredients supplier said that the expansion will support the company’s goal of continuing to invest ahead of growth in the malic and fumaric acid food-grade markets.

This expansion closely follows the previously announced 4,000 MT malic acid expansion completed in 2019, as well as the installation of a new 22,500 MT maleic anhydride reactor, which will also be operational by Q1 2021.

With these expansions, Bartek will have in excess of 30,000 MT of malic acid capacity, sufficient to supply the North American market and meet anticipated global growth.

The company has also made multiple additions to its engineering, product development, and process development organizations – completed in 2019 – as well as a complete refurbishment of the company’s quality control, assurance, and analytical labs.

With the expansions, the company now prides the largest global producer of food-grade malic and fumaric acids and the only vertically integrated North American producer.

Bartek Ingredients’ Chief Executive Officer, John Burrows said that these investments are a vital element for the company’s long-term strategy.

“Bartek is committed to leading the global market in malic and food-grade fumaric acid and ensuring that our global customers are continuously supplied with high quality malic and fumaric products,” Burrows said.

Bartek’s parent company, TorQuest Partners – which acquired the ingredients supplier in October of 2018,  adds that the expansion as the next step in the company’s growth.

“Bartek’s Board of Directors fully supports Bartek’s strategic objective of operating a global, best-in-class, vertically integrated manufacturing facility that will not only support future market growth but also new capabilities in packaging, product specialization, and new products,” said Matt Chapman, Partner at TorQuest.

Headquartered in Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada, Bartek Ingredients operates two malic and food-grade fumaric acid production facilities in Southern Ontario and distributes its products to more than 40 countries around the world.