Nature-based ingredient supplier CP Kelco is expanding its gellan gum production capabilities in the US. In response to the continued global demand for the product, CP Kelco is making a significant investment to increase capacity at its Okmulgee, Oklahoma, biogums production facility that closely follows a similar investment in China. As one of the company’s fermentation-derived products, Kelcogel gellan gum provides stabilization, suspension and texture for a variety of food and beverages.

“Always mindful of our customers’ needs and the quickly evolving market and consumer trends, we continue to anticipate an increased focus on naturally derived, clean label ingredients, now and in the future,” says Jérôme Béra, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing. “With the additional gellan gum capacity in our Okmulgee plant, we can better work with our customers worldwide to develop innovative foods, beverages and other products for consumers.”

The Okmulgee expansion comes as CP Kelco is also investing in the expansion of its gellan gum production capacity to support growth in the Asia-Pacific region. The expansion project, which broke ground in July, will see new production capabilities at the CP Kelco biogums facility in Wulian, China. The company expects the additional gellan gum production capacity at this plant to become available by the end of 2020.

“Our continued investment in our biogums plants, along with our focus on sustainability and safety, ensures that we meet our customers’ expectations for supply, quality and innovation,” Thomas Laursen, Senior Vice President, Operations emphasizes. “Along with the gellan gum expansion project kicked off at our Wulianplant in July, the Okmulgee project strongly positions CP Kelco with multiple supply points to support customers in every region globally.”

Since inventing gellan gum technology in 1978 and commercializing it in the 1990s, CP Kelco has continued to connect the science of nature-based ingredients to label-friendly products. 

The gellan gum capacity expansion projects in Okmulgee and Wulian solidify the company’s position as the leading global supplier of this multi-functional ingredient.

The companys key product lines include gellan gum, pectin, xanthan gum, carrageenan, diutan gum, cellulose gum, refined locust bean gum, microparticulated whey protein concentrate and its latest innovations, Cellulon Cellulose Liquid (fermentation-derived cellulose) and Nutrava Citrus Fiber.