Jungbunzlauer adds $200M in xanthan gum facility in Ont.

Jungbunzlauer, the only producer of xanthan gum in Canada, invests $200 million in its existing facility in Port Colborne, Ont.

The multi-year project is supported by $4.8 million from the Invest Ontario Fund and will create 50 new jobs.

“This expansion in Port Colborne marks a significant milestone for our North American business. This site not only reinforces our commitment to providing our partners with top-quality, natural biogums but also highlights our dedication to sustainability and to the local community,” said Bruno Tremblay, Jungbunzlauer CEO.

“We’ve been a proud part of the Port Colborne community for more than 20 years. In that time, we’ve invested $560 million into our local facility to expand capacity and improve sustainability. As we look ahead to the next ten years, we expect to continue to make significant investments in capacity, sustainability and the community. On top of our capital investment, the jobs, services and local purchases from our facility add approximately $20 million to Port Colborne’s economy every year,” Tremblay added.

The phase 1 expansion is expected to be operational from spring 2026 and produce biodegradable xanthan gum. This fermented sugar is used to thicken and stabilize products in the food and beverages sector.

“With this $200 million investment, Jungbunzlauer is joining agribusiness champions like Maple Leaf Foods, Andriani, Italpasta, First Choice Beverage and many more who have set down roots or expanded operations in our province. Ontario’s agribusiness sector now employs over 871,000 men and women while generating almost $51 billion in annual GDP because of world-class investments like these and I look forward to working with minister Fedeli to attract more,” said agriculture minister Rob Flack.