Balchem, a specialty ingredients manufacturer specializing in human nutrition and heatlh, will expand its U.S.-based production of VitaCholine branded choline. The upgrade will increase output by 50% to help the company meet increasing demand for the nutrient fueled by its role in cognitive health and performance.
 
“We’re enthusiastic about the successful expansion of our VitaCholine manufacturing capacity,” said Frédéric Boned, senior VP and general manager of human nutrition and health. “This milestone demonstrates our commitment to providing an expanded supply of quality human choline to help our partners’ global growth in early childhood nutrition, dietary supplements and food & beverage applications. Boasting numerous quality certifications, VitaCholine is the gold standard in choline salts and provides the highest levels of choline of any product form, effectively helping with the dosage challenges associated with most supplement formulations.”
 
Spiking Consumer Demand
 
Google trends data shows that searches for choline have risen by 55% since 2020, fueled by an interest in its role in cognitive health, which respectively is the fastest-growing nutraceutical category, Balchem reports.
 
Choline is evidenced to support cognitive health and performance at all life stages. In pregnancy and early development, higher prenatal choline intakes are linked to improved cognitive processing speeds, increased attention levels, and higher DHA uptake.
 
Choline’s benefits may extend beyond early childhood, with early evidence suggesting that choline intake can improve measures of cognitive performance in adults.

Expansion Details
 
The facility expansion was completed in August, and is expected to be fully operational by the end of the year. The 50% increase in production capacity is possible thanks to an extension of the facility by nearly 2,230 sqm, to accommodate updated machinery and equipment.
 
The investment included upgrades to the HVAC system, alongside packaging automation to improve environmental conditions. The new installations will result in greater air quality and process consistency to optimize the regulation of heat and humidity, for higher-quality solutions.
 
The company has also implemented energy-efficient systems and initiatives to reduce water and waste.
 
By eliminating manual handling and switching to automated packaging processes, the new facility will have a better degree of safety built into the work environment.
 
“We are actively expanding our global footprint so we can support customers by providing quality ingredients in all markets,” Boned said. “This expansion bolsters our U.S. supply chain and, when combined with our Italian VitaCholine site and the Norwegian K2VITAL site, positions us well for future growth. Our international presence, combined with the synergies among our integrated branded ingredients, enables us to offer formulators a scientific advantage in strategic health areas, unlocking new opportunities.”