Beneo, a manufacturer of functional ingredients, has announced an investment programme to expand capacity for its prebiotic chicory root fibre production sites in Chile and Belgium. The first step will see more than €30m ($34m) invested. The entire program will reportedly see a capacity increase of more than 40% to meet rising customer demand and drive growth within the market. The work on both sites is planned to start in 2022.

In the past four years, the number of product launches containing chicory root fibre inulin has grown by 50% globally, according to Euromonitor in September 2021. Research and Markets has also predicted the market will reach $11.48bn in 2028. The latest investment will allow for continued fulfilment of market needs within the food and feed industry, the company says.

Christoph Boettger, member of Beneos Executive Board commented: “Beneos chicory root fibres meet key consumer needs of today and we are convinced that they will continue to play a central role in healthy nutrition in the future. With increased capacity, BENEO continues to offer a secure supply to its customers and partners worldwide."

According to the International Scientific Association for Pro- and Prebiotics (ISAPP), chicory root fibres are some of the very few proven prebiotics. Their use in product development allows manufacturers to address digestive health and immunity, inner well-being, weight management, blood sugar management and bone health.

With two production sites in the Northern and Southern hemispheres, the company provides flexibility to customers, ensuring secure global supply.

Boettger said: “On top of this capacity increase, CO2 emissions are being reduced. This means that the production site in Pemuco [Chile] will be carbon neutral in a few years. Additionally, the site in Oreye [Belgium] will have reduced the specific energy consumption per ton of product by more than 50% by 2030.”

The investment will also create job opportunities as a result of expanded production facilities. At the Pemuco plant, for example, the company foresees a headcount increase of approximately 15% during the next few years.