BENEO invests $56 million to boost capacity in Belgian rice starch plant
BENEO, one of the leading manufacturers of functional ingredients, has announced a 50% production capacity increase at its facility in Wijgmaal, Belgium. Officials say a two-stage, $56 million expansion responds to rising customer demand for its rice starches and will lead to increased capacity by March 2022.
BENEO forecasts that the growing demand for natural and clean label products, in applications such as coated confectionery, will intensify in major existing markets, including the Americas and Europe. Rice is widely considered a familiar and recognizable product, with 61% of consumers worldwide regarding rice starch as natural, making it the ideal ingredient for the development of products that respond to the increasing trend for clean and clearer labels.