Winway Biotechnology Nantong Co. Ltd, a producer of polydextrose specialty fiber in the People’s Republic of China has been acquired by London-based Tate & Lyle PLC. The transaction is subject to governmental approval, which is expected later in the year.

Winway operates from a manufacturing facility and laboratories in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, where it produces a range of polydextrose products that are sold to customers in China and worldwide. Tate & Lyle intends to invest in the Nantong facility over the next two years to expand capacity and enhance its specialty fiber product offering. Nantong will become Tate & Lyle’s third polydextrose facility globally, in addition to existing operations in the Netherlands and the US.

Polydextrose is a premium, low calorie bulking agent and dietary fiber. It plays a key role in replacing the technical functionality of sugar, providing bulk, body, texture and mouthfeel in reduced calorie, no-added-sugar and/or high fiber foods. A soluble dietary fiber with prebiotic properties, polydextrose helps support gastrointestinal health, is very well tolerated, has a low glycemic/blood glucose response, and is clean tasting and easy to use.

Polydextrose is one of Tate & Lyle’s growing range of specialty fibers that includes PROMITOR Soluble Corn Fiber, PROMITOR Soluble Gluco Fiber and PromOat Beta Glucan.

Olivier Rigaud, president, Specialty Food Ingredients for Tate & Lyle said: “The acquisition of Winway provides us with an excellent platform from which to accelerate the growth of our specialty fibers business in Asia Pacific, and to expand our Health and Wellness offering globally.”