Cargill is partnering with Starpro, a key food grade tapioca starch producer in Thailand, to expand its specialty tapioca starch offerings in the Asia-Pacific region. 

The agreement will cover a full range of locally manufactured modified tapioca starches for the food industry across markets across the region and globally. 

The collaboration will support the product processing requirements of food manufacturers and meet the sensory expectations of consumers.

“Food manufacturers in Asia are faced with the challenge of meeting rising consumption demand, especially within the convenience and foodservice categories,” says Franck Monmont, managing director of Cargill Starches, Sweeteners & Texturizers Asia.

“As leaders in the modified starches industry, this partnership with Starpro will allow us to leverage our collective strengths more effectively to generate greater opportunities for growth, as well as support new innovations and solutions in the future.”

“Our ambition is to be the partner-of-choice for customers in the region by combining deep market and technical knowledge, a robust product offering and cost optimization through local manufacturing,” he adds. 

Texture is key
In addition to this high-quality tapioca starch range, Cargill also offers a wide portfolio of starches and starch-based texturizing solutions across different raw materials that provide multi-functional properties to meet the varied needs of Asian customers’ food processes and cuisines.

William Han, President of PMI and Ming Peng, commercial director of Cargill Starches, Sweeteners and Texturizers Greater China, at the partnership signing ceremony. (Credit: Cargill)Texture is a critical element in the Asian palate, stresses Monmont.

“From instant noodles to packaged foods and snacks like Chinese sausages, gyozas and Japanese mochi, as well as beverages like the perennial favorite bubble tea, Asian consumers are known to seek out textural experience in their foods,” he explains.

“As a non-GMO botanical with unique textural properties such as chewiness, springiness and a clean taste profile, tapioca starch is well suited to help food manufacturers meet the product expectations of Asian consumers.”

This signing with Starpro is the latest move by Cargill to grow its specialty starch portfolio in Asia-Pacific, after announcing the expansion of a cold-water swelling starch line at its sweetener plant in Pandaan, Indonesia, as well as the construction of a modified starch plant in Songyuan, China. 

Investing in Asia 
As part of its long-term strategic vision to grow its presence in Asia-Pacific, Cargill has also made many significant investments in the region in recent years.

These include the construction of a new US$100 million corn wet mill and starch dryer in Pandaan, Indonesia, launching its first chocolate manufacturing operation in India and opening its first food innovation center in Singapore.

Cargill also celebrates 40 years in Malaysia and total operational investment of nearly US$450 million, growth in Thailand with US$70 million investment in seafood and poultry, and a total investment of more than US$1.2 billion after 50 years in the country.

“Through this cooperation between Cargill and Starpro, we look forward to promoting the wider use of quality modified tapioca starch among food manufacturers across the world,” adds Johnney Hsueh, Consultant with Starpro.