Ontario-headquartered Bartek Ingredients – said to be the world’s largest producer of malic acid and food-grade fumaric acid – has announced the successful completion of a 4,000 ton/year capacity increase of its malic acid production facilities.

The first in a series of capital investment projects to support its growing acidulants business, Bartek says it is expanding capacity and capabilities to allow for greater flexibility and support of its food, beverage, and confectionery; animal nutrition; and industrial customers.

“Since TorQuest Partners’ acquisition of Bartek in October of 2018, we’ve executed several significant capital projects to expand our capacity and improve efficiency,” Bartek CEO John Burrows said. “Chief among these is an initiative to further increase malic and fumaric acid capacity by an additional 5,000 tons/year in 2019.”

Additional projects scheduled for completion in 2019 include upgrades to Bartek’s laboratories and office facilities. These projects are said to position Bartek to answer the growing global demand for malic acid, fumaric acid, and maleic anhydride and to support its customers’ growth and innovation needs.

“Bartek’s presence will grow substantially in 2019 with the introduction of new products and packages to meet market demands, and we will continue to add value for our customers through a series of planned initiatives,” Bartek’s Vice President of Sales Dave Tapajna said. “With the addition of resources in sales and marketing, we will also increase Bartek’s presence at industry events and trade shows.”

Bartek says its specialty products portfolio delivers wide-ranging benefits to the markets it serves, improving taste, efficiency, and efficacy for brands around the globe. Distributing to over 35 countries, Bartek ingredients are claimed to impart desirable sourness in food, beverage, and candy applications; displace antibiotics in animal feed; and provide versatile solutions for a wide range of industrial applications.