Cargill is investing EUR 20 m in its starch production plant in Sas Van Gent/The Netherlands to expand the instant starch capacity. The investment will support the increased consumer demand for convenience food.

Instant starch is a key ingredient in many cold prepared foods. Worldwide, the demand for the categories in which instant starch is used has increased. According to Euromonitor, retail volumes for ready meals, sauces, soups, cakes and pastries combined grew by 11 % from 2013 to 2018, well above the growth of overall packaged food of 7 % in the same period.

The project includes the construction of a new building and the installation of two new roll dryers in the Sas Van Gent production facility. High food-safety standards and hygienic process design principles are applied to ensure product quality. It is expected to go live this summer.