AGRANA Builds New US Facility for Fruit Preparations

The sugar, starch and fruit company AGRANA is expanding its market presence in North America by constructing a fruit preparation plant in the Northeastern Region of the US. The exact location has not yet been fixed. The total investment amounts to around US$40 million.

26 Feb 2013 --- Accordingly, from mid-2014, AGRANA will produce fruit preparations for the dairy, baking and ice-cream industries at four locations in the United States.

“Building this new plant represents an important strategic step for AGRANA in our efforts to consolidate our market leadership in the US fruit preparation segment over the long term. With the new production capacity of 45,000 tonnes annually, we are creating the conditions to achieve this,” says AGRANA CEO Johann Marihart. The US market offers average annual growth of more than six percent – in contrast to the stagnating European market –, particularly in view of the trend toward fruit yoghurts containing a high proportion of fruit preparation. Above all, the new facility will serve as a response to rising customer demand in Canada and the Northeastern Region of the US.

AGRANA currently operates three North American production sites in Botkins|Ohio, Centerville|Tennessee and Fort Worth|Texas and has its Corporate Offices and NPD Center in Brecksville/Ohio.

Fruit preparations contain premium quality fruits which are processed either as liquids or pieces in order to be used, in particular, in dairy products or for the ice cream and bakery products sectors. These fruit-based products are individually conceptualised and produced in the course of close development cooperation with customers. AGRANA manufactures fruit preparations at 26 sites worldwide.