US-based food processing company Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) has unveiled the sweetener-manufacturing portion of its integrated food-ingredient plant in Tianjin, China.
The integrated food manufacturing complex is said to be ADM's first wholly owned food-ingredient production facility in the country.
Expected to be completed in 2015, the plant will be capable of producing soluble fibre, which is used to add dietary fibre to a wide range of food and beverage products.
The plant will allow the company to cater to the country's needs for a safe, secure and sustainable food supply, consistent with priorities mentioned in China's fifth 12-year plan.
ADM Asia-Pacific vice president and president Ismael Roig said: "With demand for sweeteners and soluble fiber growing, we recognize that our customers need to source high-quality products from a trusted and reliable partner."
The company claims that the Tianjin site's ready access to rail and water transportation and to raw-material supplies will allow it to be integrated into ADM's global origination and transportation network.
Earlier this month, ADM's subsidiary Golden Peanut Company acquired processing facilities and certain assets of pecan processor Harrell Nut Company.
This comes in response to the growing demand for healthier, more convenient foods. The demand for pecans in the US has increased nearly 40% over the past ten years.
