USA – Global agribusiness company, Cargill has invested an additional US$75 million in North America’s leading producer of pea protein Puris.
Cargill formed a joint venture with Puris in January 2018 with an initial investment of US$25 million that was used to add substantial capacity at the Turtle Lake, Wisconsin production facility.
The new investment will enable Puris to more than double its pea protein production using an existing 200,000 square-foot facility in Dawson, Minnesota.
This investment will also position the firm to keep up with the ever-increasing demand for its category leading pea proteins, starches and fibers at a time when the demand for alternative plant-based proteins is increasing each year.
Tyler Lorenzen, Puris President said that the Dawwson facility will go a long way in supporting the growing demand for great tasting plant-based products in the market place.
“This is more than a pea protein facility. This is the future of food. This investment will grant Puris the ability to support more food companies, more farmers and more consumers faster.
“A vision that plant-based nutrition would propel us to a better future for both people and our planet.
“With this investment, those possibilities are becoming realities which in turn inspires us to create what’s next for plants, people, planet and PURIS,” said Lorenzen.
Laurie Koenig, Cargill texturizers and specialty lead added: “As consumer demand increases for plant-based proteins, we want to make sure that Cargill, with our partner Puris, can deliver on that demand with great tasting, sustainable and label-friendly pea protein for customers in North America and across the world.”
“This investment also provides significant support to the local economy with approximately 90 new jobs and a new revenue stream for Midwest farmers.”
“Our investment in pea protein not only enhances our diverse portfolio of high-quality ingredients but also expands our opportunity to work with customers to make products that use a variety of our ingredients to satisfy consumers around the world,” added Koenig.
With engineering complete on the Dawson facility, the company said that construction to retrofit it for pea production will start immediately, with an anticipated operational start date of late 2020.
Puris will now own and operate three facilities in North America solely focused on pea protein production: Turtle Lake, Wisconsin; Oskaloosa, Iowa; and Dawson, Minnesotta.
Puris utilizes its network of over 400 U.S. farmers to grow the non-GMO peas who supply the produce to the firm for processing into pea ingredients, including pea protein, pea starch and pea fibre.
Pea protein broadens Cargill’s portfolio of alternative proteins, such as cell-cultured protein, to meet consumer dietary preferences.
