Tate & Lyle invests in Slovakia corn wet mill capacity to meet global fibre demand 

SLOVAKIA – Global supplier of food ingredients Tate & Lyle has announced plans to invest US$26.43 million in expanding the capacity of its corn wet mill located in Boleráz, Slovakia to enable it to meet demand from customers globally. 

According to a statement from the UK-based company, the new investment is mainly aimed at creating additional capacity for its leading non-GMO Promitor Soluble Fibres. 

Promitor Soluble Fibres reportedly support gut health, promote calcium absorption and help to maintain a healthy blood glucose response. 

“Emerging science shows it may provide even wider benefits, including brain and metabolic health,” said Kavita Karnik, Tate & Lyle’s global head of nutrition, regulatory and scientific affairs. 

It will also lead to the incorporation of additional expertise and technology for operational efficiency, enabling the company to expand its existing Promitor product offerings and introduce new ones in the future. 

Tate & Lyle’s investment comes at a time when there is growing consumer demand for fibre, which is recognised for its role in promoting gut health and immunity. 

“We know that reaching the daily fibre recommendation is challenging, and for most people, it is difficult to do so without exceeding their recommended calorie intake.  

This is where reformulation of the everyday products, like breakfast cereals, yoghurt and bakery products, can be really effective in improving nutritional intake,” Karnik added. 

According to the 2021 Food and Health Survey from the International Food Information Council (IFIC), over 56% of consumers added or increased fibre content in their diet, highlighting the importance of fibre in diets.  

As a result of this uptick in demand, market research firm Facts & Factors projects the global dietary fibre market which was worth around US$ 8.18 billion in 2021 to grow to around US$15.14 billion by 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 10.80 per cent during the forecast period. 

Abigail Storms, Tate & Lyle’s SVP fibre and sweetener platform, said: “ With the addition of this state-of-the-art production facility to our fibre network, we will offer customers even greater security of supply, with efficiency benefits intended to support accessible nutrition so that more consumers can access the many benefits of fibre.” 

 The production of fibres during the initial phase of the programme will commence in mid-2024.