CP Kelco to invest $50m to build new citrus fibre production line

US-based ingredients producer CP Kelco has announced it will invest over $50 million to expand production capacity for its Nutrava Citrus Fiber.

The project will add a second Nutrava production line to the company’s plant in Matão, Brazil, to increase total capacity to around 5,000 tonnes.

Launched in 2019, Nutrava is made from citrus peels, a byproduct of the juicing business. Nutrava was developed to help formulators create food and beverage products with fewer ingredients, less sugar and less fat. Applications include condiments, dressings, soup, fruit-flavoured beverages, bakery foods, dairy and alternative protein products.

“We are excited about reaching this important milestone in our journey with Nutrava Citrus Fiber, which originated as a proof-of-concept only four years ago,” said CP Kelco’s president, Didier Viala.

“As a result of strong collaboration amongst our global team members and development partners since that time, our citrus fibre has evolved into a robust product line for use across a range of food and beverage applications, with a growing customer pipeline globally. We look forward to continuing to explore the possibilities for Nutrava Citrus Fiber in additional application segments.”

CP Kelco expects the new production line to become operational in 2023, with options to expand capacity in the future based on customer demands.

Earlier this year, CP Kelco opened a new innovation centre in Atlanta, US, aiming to expand its global network of innovation and technical support facilities.