3 Sep 2012 --- ABF Ingredients have announced a further expansion of the PGP International business with the building of a new plant in Evansville, Indiana US. The 70,000-square-foot-facility will expand the company’s production capacity and capability for specialty food ingredients and additives.

ABF Ingredients CEO, Stephen Catling said “This is a logical expansion to our specialty business which further compliments our ability to service the market with our existing plants and supports PGP International’s strategic initiative for growth.”

"We are making a significant investment in Evansville to better serve our customers and the people who enjoy their products," said PGP International CEO Nicolas Hanson. “The new facility increases our production capacity, a need we anticipate based on strong growth in recent years. It will protect us and our customers by providing a back-up for our California plant, and extends our current capabilities to new product lines. Being in Evansville will also put us closer to customers in the eastern and midwestern US.”

"Evansville was the perfect choice for our expansion," said Hanson. "The site was selected from among dozens of Midwest locations due to the talented pool of highly skilled potential employees with manufacturing experience. We are happy to join local employers Toyota and Ameriqual in this hard-working community, and hoping to attract graduates of well-regarded courses in food science, manufacturing, and engineering at nearby universities and colleges.”

Another factor that attracted the company to Evansville was its positive and pro-active business climate, said Hanson. “The state and local government have made us feel welcome and offered help getting up to speed, such as training grants for local job-seekers.” In addition, PGP International will have the benefit of a strong regional base of potential suppliers and diverse transportation links.

Work will commence on the new facility in the fourth quarter of 2012. Initial production is expected to begin in Summer 2013. The total investment for the expansion will be in excess of $16 million.

ABF Ingredients is a division of Associated British Foods that focuses on high value ingredients for both food and non-food areas and comprises a range of ingredient companies which include AB Enzymes, ABITEC Corp., Ohly and PGP International Inc.

The group has established strong market positions in cereal specialties, enzymes, esters, extruded ingredients, lactose, specialty lipids, specialty powders, specialty flours, yeast extracts and whey protein concentrates/isolates with locations worldwide.