KMC innovation centre to boost production of plant-based ingredients

KMC has officially inaugurated a new 5,000-square-metre innovation centre to supply ingredients for the future of plant-based foods.

By investing DKK 100 million (€13,4m) in this state-of-the-art facility, the company has doubled its innovation capacity, to help reinforce its position as the world’s leading manufacturer of potato-based ingredients.

KMC’s record-breaking sales of DKK 3.4 billion (€456m) in 2023 and a promising outlook for the coming year reflect a strong belief in the future of plant-based solutions within the food industry. The company’s 600-700 potato-grower owners share this optimism, recognising the potential of their investment in the Innovation Center.

“The plant-based agenda is growing rapidly, and KMC is ready to provide sustainable plant-based solutions to the food industry. Our new Innovation Center is central to this strategy and will play a crucial role in establishing a Danish stronghold within bio-solutions and the production of future plant-based foods,” says Jesper Burgaard, CEO of KMC.

KMC exports its products to over 90 countries, and the new Innovation Center will open doors to collaborative developments with customers in state-of-the-art facilities. These facilities will enable KMC’s specialists to offer expert advise on how our ingredients can add value to their products.

KMC focuses on extracting starch, fibres, and proteins from potatoes, which are integral to a wide range of foods such as noodles, bread, chips/snacks, and plant-based cheeses and dressings. KMC aims to replace animal ingredients with plant-based alternatives as part of its commitment to sustainability.

“The potato has a low climate footprint and provides many calories per hectare. Therefore, KMC’s work plays an important role in efforts to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions through Danish technologies,” says Jesper Burgaard.

The expanded space will allow KMC to consolidate its development department, fostering better knowledge sharing and enabling the hiring of additional experts to meet the growing demand for specialised knowledge about potatoes and their applications.

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