Brenntag increases plant-based protein and functional fibers as new Italian site opens

11 Feb 2020 --- Brenntag Food & Nutrition has opened a state-of-the-art site in Padua, Italy. The brand-new location houses operational and administrative workplaces and executive offices incorporating Chimab Spa. The center is dedicated entirely to the application, creation, development, production and distribution of food ingredients and solutions, in combination with an efficient logistics system. The site will bolster the company’s distribution of complex functional fibers and plant-based proteins.

“The Padua site is a great example of the commitment that Brenntag is making towards the future of our growing Food & Nutrition business. We are expanding our assets and capabilities to further meet our customers’ needs aligned to developing consumer trends,” says Tom Corcoran, Vice President Brenntag Food & Nutrition Group.

The brand-new production area and logistics department are located on the ground floor. On the first floor there are offices and meeting rooms as well as the state-of-the-art Food Application and Development Center with dedicated areas for bakery and bread, convenience food, ready meals, soups and sauces, meat, poultry and fish, dairy and ice cream, functional food, food supplements and dietetic foods. 

“We are working on increasing the distribution of food ingredients in recognition of the market demand such as proteins from vegetable sources and complex functional fibers,” Frank Haven, Vice President Brenntag Food and Nutrition, tells FoodIngredientsFirst. 

“Our production capacity has increased with a higher flexibility to produce different pack sizes. In addition, we have an automated warehouse and we will also be launching a new laboratory for Nutra applications,” he continues. “Altogether the new site is equipped with five pilot plants. More equipment has been added to the laboratories such as a new texture analyzer for bakery applications.”

Haven says the company is working on new integrated plant-based solutions for vegetarian, flexitarian and vegan diets.” Such examples are clean label and vegan solutions for meatballs and frankfurters,” he states. “For the typical Italian panettone, we are also working on a high quality and long shelf life solution which is also vegan. Plant-based solutions are relevant for many segments therefore we also work on innovations for ice cream, yogurt and a variety of Italian cheese considering the plant-based trend,” says Haven.

The Food Application & Development Center is equipped with modern devices able to scale up industrial production processes and to develop cutting-edge ingredient solutions. The Brenntag Food & Nutrition experts will create formulations tailored to the customers’ needs with the aim of creating marketable products that deliver in line with current and future market trends, notes the company. 

“The new site in Padua will offer our customers and suppliers not only in Italy, but throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) new possibilities. It will enable us to spread the expertise we have at our dedicated site throughout our region using state-of-the art equipment and facilities. We want to create innovative food formulations to make our business partners ‘sense the difference,’” Haven further explains. 

The focus will be to satisfy the mega market trends and requests for the Italian market but also for the rest of EMEA, he notes.

The new logistics department will manage goods storage, handling and picking in an automated facility with SSCC system (identification of logistics units). The production is equipped with six mixers, divided into five segregated areas to exclude cross contamination and allergen risk. It is connected directly to the state-of-the-art logistics department, which is strategically located in the district of Interporto, Padua, an important distribution hub. 

“This project achieves the ambition of housing Brenntag Food & Nutrition Italy in one single place. Thanks to this, we are now able to provide even better specialized technical support, commercial assistance and service excellence, delivering a complete partnership with our business partners in Italy from a single origin,” explains Ignazio Vullo, Regional President Europe South & President Italy.

By Elizabeth Green