Cargill Opens First North American Erythritol Plant

Cargill Opens First North American Erythritol Plant

BLAIR, Neb., & TOKYO--Cargill Food & Pharma Specialties, aunit 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 tastessimilar to sugar. To meet demand for Eridex brand erythritol, the $60 millionfacility is running continuously, according to Cargill. The sweetener can beused 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 tocollaborate on distribution of Cargill-made erythritol to food companys inJapan. The product is imported to Japan by Cerestar, a wholly owned subsidiaryof Cargill, and Mitsui-owned Nikken Fine Chemicals will manage stock inventoryas sales agent of Cerestar Japan. Mitsui will support logistics from themanufacturing site to Japanese stocking locations.