Bartek Ingredients unveils 10,000Mt malic acid capacity expansion plan

Canada-based Bartek Ingredients has announced a 10,000 million ton (Mt) malic acid capacity expansion by the first quarter of next year.

The company specialises in malic acid, food-grade fumaric acid and maleic anhydride for food and beverage applications.

This decision forms part of a plan to invest to meet growth in the food-grade malic and fumaric acid markets.

Bartek CEO John Burrows said: “Bartek is committed to leading the global market in malic and food-grade fumaric acid and ensuring that our global customers are continuously supplied with high quality malic and fumaric products. These investments are a vital element of our long-term strategy.”

Following the expansion, the company will have more than 30,000Mt of malic acid capacity.

This move will help meet the demand for Bartek products in the North American, as well as global markets.

The company hopes to maintain its position as the largest global producer of food-grade malic and fumaric acids.

Bartek’s parent company TorQuest Partners has also recognised the expansion as the next step in the company’s growth.

TorQuest partner Matt Chapman said: “Bartek’s board of directors fully supports Bartek’s strategic objective of operating a global, best-in-class, vertically integrated manufacturing facility that will not only support future market growth but also new capabilities in packaging, product specialisation and new products.”

In February, Bartek Ingredients completed the first project in a series of process and production improvements. The capacity expansion project increased the firm’s output of malic acid by 4,000Mt per year.

Bartek said the expansion will result in greater flexibility and support its food, beverage, confectionery and animal nutrition customers.