20 November 2023

New business segment: Nordzucker invests in plant-based proteins – new plant goes into operation in 2026

Nordzucker continues to grow and is expanding its portfolio. The company is investing more than 100 million Euro in the production of plant-based proteins. Nordzucker will put a new plant into operation for this new business segment at its site in Groß Munzel, Lower Saxony, by mid-2026. The expansion will create around 60 additional jobs.  

With the plant-based proteins business unit, Nordzucker is supplementing its portfolio with a product that fits in well with the company’s core competences. In view of changing eating habits and the trend towards meat, egg and milk substitutes, entering this new business segment is a step  with very attractive prospects for Nordzucker. 

Economical and sustainable production

Nordzucker relies in particular on the yellow pea from regional cultivation for the production of plant-based proteins. It can be grown in many regions and fits well into the crop rotations of farms. Nordzucker can produce peas all year round due to their good shelf life.  

Pea proteins: Ingredient for industrial processing

The pea proteins are to be marketed as a concentrate and dry texturate for further processing in the food and animal feed industry. Texturates, for example, can be used in a variety of ways, serving as a source of protein and as a texturiser in plant-based foods. Pea proteins will be produced and sold as an ingredient for further processing.

Production at the Groß Munzel site

The construction of new production capacities in Groß Munzel is scheduled to begin in autumn 2024. The site has good transport links. This provides good access to raw materials from many arable farming regions and to sales markets. Commissioning is planned for mid-2026.