Cargill Opens First North American Erythritol Plant

BLAIR, Neb., & TOKYO--Cargill Food & Pharma Specialties, a unit of Cargill Inc. (www.cargill.com), commissioned North Americas first erythritol manufacturing plant in Blair, Neb; erythritol is an all natural, non-caloric bulk sweetener that tastes similar to sugar. To meet demand for Eridex brand erythritol, the $60 million facility is running continuously, according to Cargill. The sweetener can be used in diet drinks, non-caloric table top sweeteners, low-carb sweets, sugar-free and reduced calorie chocolate, and confectionary and baking items.

In related news, Cargill and Mitsui have formed agency agreements to collaborate on distribution of Cargill-made erythritol to food companys in Japan. The product is imported to Japan by Cerestar, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cargill, and Mitsui-owned Nikken Fine Chemicals will manage stock inventory as sales agent of Cerestar Japan. Mitsui will support logistics from the manufacturing site to Japanese stocking locations.