Cargill targets Russian ingredients growth
growing importance of this emerging market to food manufacturers.
The company, which plans to highlight its tailored texturising and sweetness solutions at the event, has been increasing its investment in the region since the early 1990s.
And with over $300 million invested in the Russian agricultural and food processing sectors, Cargill is now one of the leading agricultural investors in Russia.
The company will be focussing on its range of texturising ingredients and functional systems at the event. This includes starches, maltodextrins, cultures and enzymes, lecithins, BioActives, soy proteins and hydrocolloids.
Featuring prominently will be C*DeliTex, a UHT texturiser designed to improve processing conditions and cost-effectiveness. Cargill will also be showcasing biscuits made using cold water swelling (CWS) starches, which it claims can reduce costs in bakery products through lower doses.
Cargill's Sweetness division, which specialises in providing differentiated sweetness solution, will also be at Ingredients Russia. Products on display will include Xtend Isomaltulose, a new sweetener that delivers the full energy of regular sugar (4 kcal/g) but is digested more slowly for sustained energy release and has a lower glycaemic response.
Energy bars made with this product and C*Eridex (erythritol) in beverages will also be showcased at the stand.
Cargill has established a major presence for itself within the region. Earlier this year, it opened a major wheat gluten production facility in Russia as part of a previously announced $60 million investment in wheat processing.
The facility, at the company's industrial complex in Efremov, Tula region, is designed to enable the company to provide bakery customers with products that can improve the quality of baked goods and effectively reduce production costs.
And last year, the group broke ground on its first refinery in Russia. Sunflower, rapeseed and corn oil, as well as palm and coconut oil are processed in the new €46.1 million facility.
Cargill claims to be one of the first western corporations to attempt to penetrate the Russian market after the fall of communism. The company opened its Russian office in 1991 and activities in the country now include the supply of food and agricultural commodities as well as financial markets activities.
In 1993 Cargill opened a wholly-owned Russian subsidiary, Cargill AO, designed to serve farmers in the Russian agricultural belt.
In total, Cargill Russia employs well over 1,000 people, 99 per cent of whom are Russian nationals. The company as a whole has 98,000 employees in 61 countries.
