DuPont Nutrition & Health has announced a further increase in its manufacturing capacity – this time in Europe. The company will invest $60 million expanding three cultures production sites in the region.

DuPont Nutrition & Health has announced a further increase in its manufacturing capacity – this time in Europe. The company will invest $60 million expanding three cultures production sites in the region as a response to what it says is increasing demand for frozen and freeze-dried starter cultures from the global yogurt, fresh fermented and cheese markets.

DuPont Nutrition & Health announced major expansion plans for its probiotics production facilities located in the United States in November 2016.

“These initiatives for European cultures plants will further increase our ability to serve the growing global dairy market,” said Matthias Heinzel, president, DuPont Nutrition & Health. “This additional capacity in cultures ensures that we maintain our recognized reputation for excellent stability and performance by leading customers around the world. Our investment will enable us to support their growth and geographic expansion.”

The European investments will be at the DuPont Nutrition &Health plants in Sassenage and Epernon, France, and Niebüll, Germany. The first phase of the plan will be commissioned in 2017 with an investment in the Sassenage plant. Part of this project will be the increase of fermentation capacity, biomass separation as well as freeze-drying capacity. This will result in an increased production capacity for freeze-dried cultures by the end of 2018.

Frozen cultures production capacity will be increased by investment in the Niebüll and Epernon plants. At Niebüll, some investment has been made already in a new pelletizer and further investment will be made to expand ultra-cold storage (-55°C) to increase supply of frozen cultures. In Epernon, the plan is to leverage the existing fermentation capacity by investing in a new fermenter.

“The global dairy industry is expected to grow in the next five years driven by the higher consumption of fresh dairy products especially in Asia, as well as by the increased demand for cheese and cheese products for the food service industry,” said John Rea, DuPont Nutrition & Health probiotics, cultures and food protection leader. “The investments in both freeze-dried and frozen pellets cultures format will reinforce DuPont Nutrition & Health’s leading position to serve and anticipate the needs of the global yogurt, fresh fermented and cheese industry.”