Global speciality food ingredients company Tate & Lyle has opened its expanded oat ingredients manufacturing facility in Kimstad, Sweden.
The expansion was part of the $100m investment in additional capacity announced by the company in May 2014.
The company said that the expansion will result in over tenfold increase in the capacity of the facility compared to 2013 levels.
Tate & Lyle speciality food ingredients president said: “We continue to see growing demand for oat ingredients across the world as consumers look for healthier and tastier foods.
“Through the expansion of our facility in Sweden, and our deep formulation expertise, we will be able to help our customers develop more products with health-benefit claims and functional benefits.”
The company uses a patented manufacturing process at the facility, eliminating the addition of chemicals.
The process is carried out to transform locally sourced Swedish oats into high value ingredients such as PromOat Beta Glucan and PrOatein Oat Protein.
Tate & Lyle said that the products are used in a wide variety of food and beverages including breakfast cereals, smoothies, baked goods, bars and sports shakes.
Besides, the plant manufactures Avenacare Oat Beta Glucan for use in the personal care and cosmetics industries.
Tate & Lyle oat ingredients vice president and general manager Henrik Schmidt said: “The expansion at our facility in Kimstad has brought significant benefits to the local community.
“The number of employees at the facility has more than doubled since 2013 and many local companies have been used to deliver the expansion and provide supplies and services.”