Roquette Makes Major Investment in New Pea Protein Facility

Roquette recently announced its plan to build a new pea-protein manufacturing site in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba (Canada). This is an investment of more than CAD400m (over USD300m), the company announced.

Roquette’s investment is the world’s largest dedicated to pea-protein in the food, nutrition and health industry to date, according to the company, and is made to reinforce the group’s leadership in plant protein, on the global context of a growing demand for plant proteins.

It also reaffirms the company’s strategy to develop specialties for food, nutrition and health markets. This large industrial unit will expand Roquette’s pea-protein production capacity and help address the growing customer demand for plant-based proteins in North America and globally.

This new site is strategically located in Canada, the world’s largest producer of peas, with around 30% of the total global production.

Construction is expected to start in the second half of 2017, subject to obtaining the relevant permits, and production is expected to begin in 2019. Upon completion, Roquette’s site in Portage la Prairie is expected to employ around 150 people, mostly recruited locally.

The pea protein market is very attractive, as demand for plant proteins for human nutrition is driven by health consciousness, consumer concerns and sustainability, says Roquette. Pea protein is environmentally friendly to produce and is a great source of protein, with numerous applications in gluten-free foods, vegetarian foods, sports and slimming foods, senior nutrition and clinical nutrition.