Cargill has announced that it is expanding its cold-water swelling starch production capacity at its Pandaan facility, in an effort to meet demand for rising food consumption.

The expansion – which will take place at its sweetener plant in Pandaan, Indonesia – will double production capacity to better serve food manufacturers, particularly in the convenience and foodservice categories.

Cargill’s cold-water swelling starches are used for sauces and dressings, snacks, bakery goods, as well as bakery fillings and cold prepared dairy products.

According to Cargill, cold-water swelling starches are regarded as the best-in-class instant starch solutions that give unique textures to end products, while offering improved viscosity, better dispersibility, and more flexibility in processing.

“Since the start of our cold-water swelling starch line in Pandaan three years ago, we have provided customers in the region with shorter delivery lead times, increased supply reliability, and more cost-competitive, Asia-focused specialty starch products,” said Franck Monmont, managing director of Cargill starches, sweeteners & texturizers Asia.

The news comes after Cargill announced that it is investing $100 million to build a corn wet mill and starch dryer at the same site to increase the production of starches and sweeteners.

Monmont says that both developments reaffirm Cargill’s confidence in Asia as a leading food and beverage market.

The Pandaan expansion also complements existing lines in North America and Europe to further strengthen Cargill’s cold-water swelling starch manufacturing capabilities worldwide.

The expansion is expected to be completed by May 2021.