With a more than $10 million investment, Nexira’s main industrial site in France has added new production capacity of acacia fiber by more than 20%, in line with the company’s strategic focus on the expanding nutritional and health markets.

The plant, located in Normandy, can produce more than 35,000 tons of acacia fiber yearly, to meet the rapidly growing global demand for nutritional ingredients.

Nexira’s investment in its facilities includes a new spray dryer to enhance productivity and energy performance. The company has three acacia fiber processing lines at its French site. Further investments are planned for the rest of 2022 and beyond, through 2023.

“With these investments, we are significantly increasing our production capabilities, while pursuing a strategic focus on the health and nutrition markets and reducing our carbon footprint,” said Mathieu Dondain, general manager of development at Nexira. “We are confirming our leadership in acacia with a market share of over 40% and are further accelerating our diversification by adding new natural and organic ingredients to our portfolio.”

The growing nutritional products market is boosting demand for acacia fiber, he added, particularly in the U.S. “It has been heightened by the Food and Drug Administration’s recent decision to grant dietary fiber status to acacia, following the citizen petition supported by Nexira. Our new production capacities will allow us to meet this demand not only for acacia fiber but also other natural ingredients; we have additional long-term plans for production in the U.S. to better serve our customers on the North American continent.”

With a minimum of 90% fiber content guaranteed, Nexira’s inavea acacia fiber is positioned as an ideal clean label ingredient for fiber fortification, according to the company. Certified FODMAP-friendly, inavea has proven prebiotic effects and is particularly suited for use in the expanding markets of functional beverages, nutritional powders, healthy snack bars, or supplements that promote gut health. In addition, inavea is carbon neutral, responding to growing demand from eco-conscious consumers.