Nordzucker Goes Green and Expands into Plant-Based Proteins
With an eye on the future, Nordzucker is investing over 100 million euros into the production of plant-based proteins. This ambitious move doesn't stop at new digs in Lower Saxony, as it also promises around 60 new jobs. This announcement was made at the beginning of the week by the Braunschweig-based company's CEO, Lars Gorissen. "Plant-based nutrition is set to play a significant role in the coming years, as the market continues to multiply at an impressive pace," Gorissen shared.
As Europe's second-largest sugar producer, Nordzucker sees plant-based proteins as an attractive market due to evolving eating habits and the escalating demand for meat, egg, and milk alternatives. In particular, the company is zeroing in on the yellow pea sourced from local farming for its production. The long shelf life of peas allows for year-round production, making it an ideal choice for the brand.
The produced protein concentrates and dry texturates will be utilized in food and animal feed industries for further processing. Operational Manager Alexander Godow explained their approach, "We'll be producing and selling pea proteins as ingredients for further processing."
The building works in Groß Munzel, in the Hanover region, are scheduled to start in the fall of 2024. The presence of a Nordzucker site and existing infrastructure in the area provides a convenient starting point for the company. The commissioning is expected in mid-2026.
Established already in 2023 as part of Nordzucker's growth strategy, this new plant in Lower Saxony is set to produce nutritious pea proteins. By capitalizing on this, Nordzucker aims to promote agroecological practices and nourishment across varying sectors.
Nordzucker's focus hasn't only been on plant-based proteins, but also on decarbonization efforts. Through utilizing biomethane from beet residues in Denmark (as part of their GoGreen program), Nordzucker is striving towards carbon neutrality by 2050 at the latest. Additionally, Nordzucker opened a new extraction tower and raised a new sugar silo at their Uelzen factory and Nordstemmen site, respectively, contributing to lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduced transportation.
With the second-best financial year in its history, Nordzucker reported revenues of 2.9 billion euros in 2023/2024, a remarkable 29.3% increase from the previous year. The entry into the cane sugar business in Australia is one positive factor that contributed to this success.
As a testament to its strong financial performance and potential for future growth, Nordzucker is making significant investments in renewable energy sources and plant-based proteins. With its strategic plan for green industries, it is set to play a vital role in Europe's shift towards sustainable alternatives.
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Enrichment: Since its inception in 2023, Nordzucker's aim of entering the plant-based protein market has been part of its growth strategy. In addition to focusing on the plant-based alternatives market, Nordzucker also emphasizes decarbonization efforts. To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the company has implemented various measures, including the use of biomethane from beet residues in Denmark and the commissioning of a new sugar silo in Nordstemmen to lower transport emissions. Nordzucker's financial performance has been consistently strong, with revenues soaring by 29.3% during the 2023/2024 financial year, making a clear profit of 182 million euros, and the recent entry into the cane sugar business in Australia contributing to this success.
