Category: Content Media Category

Home / Media Hub / CP Kelco Partners with ExoPolymer to Bring Next-Generation Functional Biopolymers to Market

CP Kelco Partners with ExoPolymer to Bring Next-Generation Functional Biopolymers to Market

ATLANTA, September, 27, 2022 – CP Kelco, a global leader of nature-based ingredient solutions that is owned by J.M. Huber Corporation, and ExoPolymer, Inc., a biotechnology startup company focused on developing new-to-the-world, polysaccharide-based biopolymers, are excited to announce a partnership to develop and commercialize a portfolio of new functional ingredients for the personal care industry and beyond.

The initial focus of this partnership will be to scale up production of ExoPolymer’s first product, a polysaccharide-based biopolymer to be used in high-end, skin care formulations for hydration, anti-aging, and anti-wrinkle performance. In partnership with CP Kelco, ExoPolymer plans to offer an improved alternative to hyaluronic acid that is highly effective, animal-free, genetic modification-free, safe and derived from plant feedstocks.

ExoPolymer’s mission is to create new, sustainable and highly upgraded functional and active ingredients to satisfy a wide range of existing and emerging market needs. It is one of the first industrial biotechnology startup companies to develop a completely new portfolio of polysaccharide-based biopolymer ingredients for markets such as personal care, healthcare and home care, for which sustainability has become an increasingly important characteristic to consumers and performance of currently available biopolymers is lacking.

In addition to an unwavering commitment to sustainability across its operations, CP Kelco brings robust capabilities in fermentation technology, manufacturing, quality control and commercialization to the new partnership. For approximately 90 years, CP Kelco has collaborated with many of the world’s leading food and beverage manufacturers to formulate innovative products that meet key texture and stability requirements while addressing consumer needs and preferences.

“Partnering with CP Kelco at this early stage is exceptionally valuable for ExoPolymer,” said Dr. Derek Wells, Founder and CEO of ExoPolymer. “Their decades of industry leadership, experience in producing biopolymer ingredients, and understanding what it takes to scale a fermentation process substantially de-risk our path to commercial success.  As we explore new and valuable functionalities of our technology, CP Kelco’s production capabilities and market reach will allow us to commercialize needed products at a heightened pace.  We look forward to teaming up with them.”

“We are delighted to partner with ExoPolymer to introduce a portfolio of new and unique ingredients to the marketplace,” said Didier Viala, President of CP Kelco. “The personal care segment and the broader CPG industry offer exciting opportunities for fermentation-derived ingredients that can deliver existing or new functional benefits in a more sustainable and/or more cost-effective way.”

“The ExoPolymer toolbox and approach are well complemented by CP Kelco’s industrialization and commercialization capabilities, making this collaboration a natural fit,” added Viala.

Beyond the personal care market, both companies plan to develop new ingredients which target existing and emerging needs in strategic areas for CP Kelco and to leverage their complementary capabilities to accelerate commercialization of ExoPolymer’s innovation pipeline. For example, polysaccharide-based biopolymer ingredients deliver a range of important benefits in food and beverage products and provide key functionality in alternative protein-based products. New and improved products derived from fermentation will be important in enabling the transition to more abundant animal-free products to feed the planet.

“CP Kelco pioneered the manufacture of carbohydrate ingredients by precision fermentation, and ExoPolymer is bringing an entirely new generation of these products to the market,” said Dr. Doug Cameron, Advisory Board member at ExoPolymer.  “Given the market need for next-generation performance and the challenges for startups in navigating production efficiency, capacity and scale, this partnership makes strategic sense for both organizations.”

About CP Kelco

CP Kelco is a nature-based ingredient solutions company with approximately 90 years of experience working with food, beverage, consumer and industrial product manufacturers worldwide. We apply ingredient innovation and problem-solving to develop customized solutions that leverage our regional insights, meet manufacturers’ goals and address consumer needs and preferences.

  • Unique Portfolio. Produces extensive range of high-quality, plant-based and fermentation-derived ingredients to formulate tailored solutions.
  • Technical Excellence. Offers strong collaboration with a global team of scientists and applications experts, leveraging our regional state-of-the art R&D facilities.
  • Sustainability. Committed to providing responsibly sourced and produced ingredients.
  • Market Insights. Understands market and consumer trends to help customers create relevant and innovative products.

Our key product lines include pectin, gellan gum, xanthan gum, carrageenan, diutan gum, refined locust bean gum, microparticulated whey protein concentrate, fermentation-derived cellulose and our latest innovation, NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber. Learn more at www.cpkelco.com.

About ExoPolymer

ExoPolymer is a biotechnology company focused on next-generation, high-performance biopolymer ingredients for the personal care, food, healthcare, and other markets.  We use existing natural diversity as well as modern strain engineering and fermentation to identify and produce a portfolio of completely novel and highly upgraded biopolymer products.  Early funding support from the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, the National Corn Growers Association, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as well as select private and institutional investors allowed ExoPolymer to rapidly bring first products to their current advanced stage of commercial readiness.  ExoPolymer is based in San Carlos, California. Visit us at www.exopolymer.com

Home / Media Hub / Bolstered by Strong Demand, CP Kelco’s Citrus Fiber Expansion Project Well Underway

Bolstered by Strong Demand, CP Kelco’s Citrus Fiber Expansion Project Well Underway

ATLANTA, August  9, 2022 – Work is progressing on our product line extension for NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber in Matao, Brazil. The new build is well underway and expected to increase our total production capacity to nearly 5,000 metric tons, with options to further expand capacity as needed in the future.

With global demand on the rise and limitless market potential, NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber is definitely growing in its appeal. A renewed focus on healthier eating habits is driving the search for functional, nature-based ingredients. NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber was developed specifically to help formulators meet consumer demand for foods and beverages with less sugar and less fat, as well as simpler, easily recognizable ingredients.

NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber is upcycled from citrus peels, an abundant byproduct of the juice industry that populates the region where our plant is strategically located. With this great local source of raw materials at the ready, we are well-positioned to help formulators innovate a wide range of clean label-friendly products – from dairy and dairy alternatives to beverages, condiments, sauces, bakery, fruit-based applications, meats and plant-based meat alternatives.

“With the sheer scale of this project and ample capacity we are adding, CP Kelco is positioned to be the world leader in citrus fiber production.”

-Didier Viala, President

CP Kelco’s award-winning Matão facility is known for its commitment to sustainability. According to William Letsinger, Senior Director of Strategy, the product line extension is being developed with the most efficient technologies to meet water, energy and emissions reduction goals, while also creating employment opportunities to help the local community. Our production of citrus fiber includes a proprietary and patented peel wash process, which drastically reduces the need for fresh water compared to traditional peel washing while also retaining a high level of pectin and soluble fiber. The project is scheduled for completion in Q3 of 2023.

Especially A-Peeling Facts about NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber

  • Officially launched in December 2019 at Food Ingredients Europe.
  • Upcycled from citrus peels, an abundant byproduct of the nearby juice industry in Brazil.
  • Our proprietary and patented peel wash process was designed to lessen its environmental impact by drastically reducing the use of fresh water as compared to traditional peel washing.
  • In addition, our peel wash process helps to retain a high level of pectin and soluble fiber.
  • Spent citrus peel is processed into animal feed. In 2020, we fed roughly 30,000 local farm animals with our BRASPOLPA® feed. What remains as liquid byproduct is distilled into FERPEC® organic fertilizer for nearby citrus orchards.
  • A fiber ingredient, it can be listed as citrus fiber on the label and does not require an E number in Europe.
  • Supports dietary fiber intake and offers unique water-binding and texturizing capabilities across many food and beverage applications.
  • Key applications include dairy and dairy alternative products, beverages, condiments, sauces, bakery, fruit-based products, meats and plant-based meat alternatives.
  • In certain applications, NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber can help reduce use of or act as an alternative to starch, sugar, oil, locust bean gum, methylcellulose, egg and other ingredients that may be hard to source currently due to shortages and supply chain issues. Ask us for application recommendations.

Home / Media Hub / CP Kelco Reports Extensive Progress in Expansion of Biogums Production Capacity at U.S., China Facilities

CP Kelco Reports Extensive Progress in Expansion of Biogums Production Capacity at U.S., China Facilities

ATLANTA, July 26, 2022 – CP Kelco, a global leader of nature-based ingredient solutions, announced today that it has made extensive progress in expanding biogums production capacity at two of its plant facilities:  Okmulgee, Oklahoma, USA and Wulian, China.

These expansion initiatives are integral pieces of the company’s significant, multi-year investment program focused on advancing both its biogums production capacity and capabilities. Alongside its biogums production facility in San Diego, California, USA, CP Kelco provides its customers with critical supply security through centralized coordination of three geographically distinct production sites for gellan gum, xanthan gum, diutan gum and fermentation-derived cellulose.

In 2020, the first phase of this expansion was completed at our site in Wulian, China, adding the capability to produce high acyl (HA) gellan gum and increasing overall plant production capacity by 30%. We plan to add low acyl (LA) gellan gum production capability at this facility in 2023.

CP Kelco is also scheduled to complete an expansion of 40% in production capacity in 2023 at our plant in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.  Individually and collectively, these initiatives reflect CP Kelco’s commitment to providing world-class customer support and innovation despite the unprecedented challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and exacerbated by rampant inflation and supply chain disruptions.

“We remain committed to serving our customers worldwide and supporting their growth plans, particularly as the market trends and consumer demands continue to evolve and point toward formulating with nature-based, clean label-friendly and sustainably produced ingredients,” said Didier Viala, President of CP Kelco. “The expansion of our biogums capacity enables us to more effectively collaborate with our customers in developing innovative food, beverage, personal care, home care and other products for consumers.”

About CP Kelco

CP Kelco is a nature-based ingredient solutions company with approximately 90 years of experience working with food, beverage, consumer and industrial product manufacturers worldwide. We apply ingredient innovation and problem-solving to develop customized solutions that leverage our regional insights, meet manufacturers’ goals and address consumer needs and preferences.

  • Unique Portfolio. Produces extensive range of high-quality, plant-based and fermentation-derived ingredients to formulate tailored solutions.
  • Technical Excellence. Offers strong collaboration with a global team of scientists and applications experts, leveraging our regional state-of-the art R&D facilities.
  • Sustainability. Committed to providing responsibly sourced and produced ingredients.
  • Market Insights. Understands market and consumer trends to help customers create relevant and innovative products.

Our key product lines include pectin, gellan gum, xanthan gum, carrageenan, diutan gum, refined locust bean gum, microparticulated whey protein concentrate, fermentation-derived cellulose and our latest innovation, NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber.

 

Home / Media Hub / CP Kelco to Showcase Nature-Powered Ingredient Portfolio, Prototypes at in-cosmetics® Global Expo

CP Kelco to Showcase Nature-Powered Ingredient Portfolio, Prototypes at in-cosmetics® Global Expo

“Ingredient Innovation for a Sustainable Future” Theme

Underscores Commitment to Meet Market Needs

 

ATLANTA, March 29, 2022 – CP Kelco, a global leader of nature-based ingredient solutions, is returning to in-cosmetics® Global with a complete portfolio of offerings to support product development in the fast-growing personal care market. Taking place April 5 – 7 in Paris, in-cosmetics® Global is one of the leading global events for personal care ingredients.

“We invite you to visit us at Stand E40 where we will showcase our nature-powered ingredients in a range of cleansing, skin care and sun care prototypes,” said Yves Boland, Senior Director, Business Development. “With our theme of ‘Ingredient Innovation for a Sustainable Future,’ we want to feature the plant-based and fermentation-derived origins of our readily biodegradable, innovative ingredients that are kind to skin and our waterways while providing excellent functionality for desired texture, viscosity and suspension.”

CP Kelco’s unique portfolio of ingredients for personal care products is comprised of:

Visitors at the CP Kelco exhibit are invited to experience several prototypes, including an emulsifier-free, cold-processed mineral sunscreen; a shimmering shampoo; a foaming, fluid gel skin cleanser with exfoliating beads; a silicone-free, day-to-night moisturizer and a honey-thick, sulfate-free body wash.

“Consumers want personal care products that are good for them and the environment, with no compromises on luxurious texture and overall sensory appeal,” said Sandra Catarino, Director, Strategic Segment Marketing. “The challenge for formulators is delivering the functionality and texture that consumers expect in more sustainable formats, that use less water and do not contain sulfates, silicone and parabens.”

At 3pm CET on 5 April, CP Kelco will also give a presentation in the Global Sustainability Corner with insights to help manufacturers meet sustainability and circularity goals using nature-based ingredients. In addition, CP Kelco will sponsor a display pod with a slide show for exploration for the duration of the show.

At Stand E40, CP Kelco will feature the raw material origins of its pectin, carrageenan, xanthan gum, fermentation-derived cellulose and gellan gum through original art murals of citrus, seaweed, cabbage, coconut, and water lily pads and flowers. The artwork was originally commissioned for CP Kelco’s global innovation center in Atlanta to inspire the scientists as well as customers collaborating on formulations.

About CP Kelco: Unlocking Natured-Powered Success®

CP Kelco is a nature-based ingredient solutions company with approximately 90 years of experience working with food, beverage, consumer and industrial products manufacturers worldwide. We apply ingredient innovation and problem-solving to develop customized solutions that leverage our regional insights and meet manufacturers’ goals to address consumer needs and preferences. What sets us apart:

  • Unique Portfolio. Produces extensive range of high-quality plant-based and fermentation-derived ingredients to formulate tailored solutions.
  • Technical Excellence. Offers strong collaboration with a global team of scientists and applications experts, leveraging our regional state-of-the art R&D facilities.
  • Sustainability. Committed to providing responsibly sourced and produced ingredients.
  • Market Insights. Understands market and consumer trends to help customers create relevant and innovative products.

Key product lines include gellan gum, pectin, xanthan gum, carrageenan, diutan gum, refined locust bean gum, microparticulated whey protein concentrate, fermentation-derived cellulose and our latest innovation, NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber. Learn more at www.cpkelco.com.

 

Home / Media Hub / CP Kelco and Shiru Announce Partnership to Create Next-Generation Alternative Proteins

CP Kelco and Shiru Announce Partnership to Create Next-Generation Alternative Proteins

Using precision fermentation technology,

CP Kelco to scale up novel, functional ingredients identified by

Shiru’s discovery platform, Flourish™

 

ATLANTA, March 21, 2022 – CP Kelco, a leading nature-based ingredient solutions company, and food ingredient startup Shiru, Inc. today announced a new partnership to accelerate the transition to a sustainable food system through the discovery and development of next-generation, plant-based proteins using precision fermentation technology.

Shiru’s discovery platform Flourish™ uses computational biology to interrogate their proprietary database of hundreds of millions of proteins to find the best functional ingredients for every food formulation challenge. Using precision fermentation and high-throughput screening, Shiru produces these ingredients and validates their performance in food. The objective is to enable food companies to make delicious, nutritious, and sustainable foods with a small fraction of the environmental footprint of conventional, animal-derived foods.

Together, Shiru and CP Kelco will accelerate product development for several proteins identified by the Flourish™ platform. CP Kelco will perform scale-up of these proteins with its fermentation capabilities and further validate the performance of the Shiru proteins in food prototypes by the end of this year.

The first promising candidates for the Shiru-CP Kelco partnership include novel replacements for methylcellulose, a chemical compound used as a gelling agent and emulsifier in food products such as plant-based meat alternatives.

“Shiru is developing a range of functional ingredients that enable food manufacturers to reduce their environmental footprint quickly and efficiently – without compromising on functionality, taste, or nutrition,” said Shiru CEO and Founder Dr. Jasmin Hume. “We look forward to a long and productive partnership with CP Kelco – and with all companies that strive to make our food system sustainable and robust.”

For approximately 90 years, CP Kelco has collaborated with many of the world’s leading food and beverage manufacturers to formulate innovative products that meet key texture and stability requirements while addressing consumer needs and preferences, such as a simple, clean ingredient label. The company recently launched a range of nature-based ingredient solutions for today’s plant-based meat alternative product developers.

“CP Kelco has embarked on a strategic initiative focused on alternative proteins and innovation to meet evolving market and consumer needs, now and in the future,” said Robert Dunn, Senior Marketing Director and Alternative Proteins Program Lead at CP Kelco. “We’re delighted to partner with innovators like Shiru, not only to further contribute to sustainable development within the food & beverage industry, but also to accelerate our engagement and learning in the alternative proteins space.”

“Our fermentation technology expertise and operational infrastructure are uniquely suited to working hand-in-hand with Shiru to achieve our shared goals,” added Steve Matzke, Senior Manager of Pioneering Innovation at CP Kelco.

R&D and production teams from both Shiru and CP Kelco are already working together at CP Kelco’s facility in San Diego to support the first prototype runs.

About CP Kelco

CP Kelco is a nature-based ingredient solutions company with approximately 90 years of experience working with food, beverage, consumer and industrial product manufacturers worldwide. We apply ingredient innovation and problem-solving to develop customized solutions that leverage our regional insights, meet manufacturers’ goals and address consumer needs and preferences.

  • Unique Portfolio. Produces extensive range of high-quality, plant-based and fermentation-derived ingredients to formulate tailored solutions.
  • Technical Excellence. Offers strong collaboration with a global team of scientists and applications experts, leveraging our regional state-of-the art R&D facilities.
  • Sustainability. Committed to providing responsibly sourced and produced ingredients.
  • Market Insights. Understands market and consumer trends to help customers create relevant and innovative products.

Our key product lines include pectin, gellan gum, xanthan gum, carrageenan, diutan gum, refined locust bean gum, microparticulated whey protein concentrate, fermentation-derived cellulose and our latest innovation, NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber. Learn more at www.cpkelco.com.

About Shiru

Shiru is pioneering next-generation ingredients for use in food manufacturing and production.  Founded in 2019, Shiru has developed an ingredient discovery approach that combines machine-learning algorithms and precision fermentation to discover and create high value ingredients. Built by a team of technology experts and food industry veterans, Shiru is on a mission to reduce the world’s reliance on animals for food by providing delicious, cost-effective, and sustainable alternatives. Shiru is based in Emeryville, California, and is backed by leading venture capital firms such as S2G Ventures, Lux Capital, and CPT Capital. For more information, visit www.shiru.com.

 

Home / Media Hub / CP Kelco Launches New Ingredient Solutions for Plant-Based Meat Alternatives

CP Kelco Launches New Ingredient Solutions for Plant-Based Meat Alternatives

Nature-Based Offerings Meet Formulators’ Demands for Improved Taste, Texture and a Cleaner Label

ATLANTA, March 17, 2022 – CP Kelco, a global leader of nature-based ingredient solutions, is pleased to announce a new portfolio of offerings to support product development in the dynamic, fast-growing market of plant-based meat alternatives. The new range of solutions includes nature-based, cleaner label-friendly ingredient options for formulating plant-based burger and sausage alternatives and helping deliver a meat-like eating experience.

With the rise of flexitarians, plant-based meat alternative products were developed to be as close as possible to meat, but they had a long and complex ingredient list. Now that the category has exploded in popularity, Generation 2.0 consumers are increasingly interested in meat alternative products with a simpler, more recognizable ingredient list. Taste, texture and a meat-like eating experience are even more important.

Introducing CP Kelco’s new meat alternative (MA) line of multifunctional solutions for formulating plant-based burger and sausage alternatives

  • KELCOGEL® MA-60 Gellan Gum acts as an alternative to methylcellulose. It adds hot bite and texture for an enjoyable meat-like eating experience. In addition, it is very easy to work with and process-friendly, producing a less-sticky dough for forming burger patties. Gellan gum, made by fermentation, is already considered a go-to functional ingredient for solving plant-based protein challenges and is widely used in plant-based, dairy alternative beverages.
  • For extra juiciness, GENU® Pectin MA-50 can be used in combination with KELCOGEL® MA-60 Gellan Gum or another gelling agent. Our pectin is upcycled from spent citrus peels, a byproduct of the juice industry, and is an easily recognizable, consumer-friendly ingredient used in a variety of foods and beverages.
  • GENU® Texturizer MA-1 is a multifunctional solution which provides juicy texture as well as both hot and cold bite, enabling a more robust formulation and a meat-like eating experience. It is a blend of carrageenan, extracted from red seaweed, and methylcellulose which could present an opportunity for those looking to extend their product line into plant-based sausages.
  • NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber boost is a clean label-friendly fiber ingredient that enables starch replacement in plant-based meat alternatives. Made from sustainably sourced citrus peel, a byproduct of the juice industry, it stabilizes emulsions and provides water-holding capacity which increases cooking yield and juiciness.

“Our launch of this new portfolio of offerings for plant-based meat alternatives is an exciting advancement in our rapidly evolving program focused on alternative protein product development and innovation,” said Robert Dunn, Senior Marketing Director and Alternative Proteins Program Lead.

“The remarkable part is that innovation came from within our existing portfolio of gellan gum, pectin, carrageenan and citrus fiber. We drew upon the strength of these proven, nature-based ingredients and our talented team of scientists to answer the growing market need for cleaner label alternatives to methylcellulose and starch, the top two ingredients used in plant-based meat alternatives,” Dunn added.

In addition to innovations that will help alternative protein product developers today, CP Kelco is also collaborating on next-generation solutions outside our current portfolio that will accelerate the shift to a more sustainable food system.

About CP Kelco: Unlocking Nature-Powered Success®

CP Kelco is a nature-based ingredient solutions company with approximately 90 years of experience working with food, beverage, consumer and industrial products manufacturers worldwide. We apply ingredient innovation and problem-solving to develop customized solutions that leverage our regional insights and meet manufacturers’ goals to address consumer needs and preferences.

  • Unique Portfolio. Produces extensive range of high-quality, plant-based and fermentation-derived ingredients to formulate tailored solutions.
  • Technical Excellence. Offers strong collaboration with a global team of scientists and applications experts, leveraging our regional state-of-the art R&D facilities.
  • Sustainability. Committed to providing responsibly sourced and produced ingredients.
  • Market Insights. Understands market and consumer trends to help customers create relevant and innovative products.

 

Key product lines include gellan gum, pectin, xanthan gum, carrageenan, diutan gum, refined locust bean gum, microparticulated whey protein concentrate, fermentation-derived cellulose and our latest innovation, NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber. Learn more at www.cpkelco.com.