INDONESIA – Cargill, the American multinational food corporation, has opened its first blending facility in Southeast Asia, located in Pandaan, East Java, Indonesia.
The state-of-the-art facility aims to serve sugar confectionery customers and consumers across Asia, particularly in Indonesia, one of the region’s key markets.
The new blending facility enhances Cargill’s capabilities in starches, sweeteners, and texturizers, allowing the company to develop specialised solutions tailored to Asian consumers’ preferences.
According to Cargill’s proprietary 2024 TrendTracker research, 40% of Asia-Pacific consumers prioritize texture in their food and beverage choices.
“When it comes to sugar confectionery products, Asian consumers show a preference for a diversity of textures – from hard candies and chewy gummies to popping and fizzy sweets,” said Francesca Kleemans, managing director of food solutions in Southeast Asia at Cargill.
Francesca Kleemans, managing director of food solutions in Southeast Asia at Cargill, reported that their new state-of-the-art blending facility enables them to create exciting sugar confectionery treats with various textures for Asian consumers by combining modified starches, sweeteners, pectin, and carrageenan.
Cargill’s insight-led innovation and formulation expertise enable the company to support its customers in meeting unique market needs and diverse consumer demands across Asia, such as for nature-derived ingredients and halal requirements.
The company operates eight starches, sweeteners, and texturizer plants in Indonesia, India, and China, as well as four Asian food innovation centres in Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing, and Gurgaon.
This extensive network positions Cargill to deliver value, innovation, and growth for regional customers.
In addition to the new blending facility, Cargill recently opened a US$100 million corn wet mill in Pandaan to help meet the growing demand for starches, sweeteners, and feed in Asia.
The sugar confectionery industry in Asia-Pacific is projected to grow at a 5% CAGR from 2024 to 2028. Cargill’s latest investment in Indonesia demonstrates the company’s commitment to creating relevant innovations that cater to market and consumer demands in the region.
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