New Plant-Based Sugar Alternative Facility Opens in Virginia

Bonumose, a rare sugar company, has opened a new 50,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Charlottesville, VA, dedicated to the production of tagatose, a plant-based sweetener with numerous health benefits. Tagatose is 90% as sweet as sugar, but has 62% fewer calories and no bitter aftertaste. It is also ultra-low on the glycemic index, making it a suitable sweetener for people with diabetes or anyone watching their health. Tagatose also has prebiotic properties, promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, and has been certified as non-GMO, ketogenic, and kosher.

Using enzymes and a plant-based starch, alongside a proprietary process, Bonumose can reduce the cost of this sugar alternative, making it affordable for the global mass market. An equity investment co-led by sweetener company ASR Group and The Hershey Company, as well as a loan from X-Caliber Rural Capital, supported the facility. The new plant has brought more than 30 jobs to the Charlottesville community.

Governor Glenn Youngkin has praised the opening of Bonumose’s state-of-the-art production and research facility in Albemarle County. Bonumose is a pioneer in the rare sugar industry that will utilize its expanded new space to produce an innovative product that is changing the way we consume sugar, providing a healthier alternative without sacrificing taste.

Bonumose plans to expand production in the near future, and major food and beverage brands are evaluating tagatose for their products to respond to consumer demand for reducing sugars without sacrificing taste or texture. “Tagatose has everything you love about sugar with better health benefits,” said Ed Rogers, CEO of Bonumose.