Cargill’s new Asia unit eyes China and India
The new unit will help customers capitalise on the growing demand for consumer-packaged goods in the Asia-Pacific region, the release said, with a staff of more than 400 professionals.
“We are focusing on geographies that experience higher average growth, and countries and regions include China, India and Southeast Asia. Our decision was driven by our focus on understanding our customer needs better and our desire to respond faster to their requests,” a Cargill spokesperson told FoodNavigator-Asia.
Sharpened focus
The new unit will offer starches, hydrocolloids, lecithins, functional systems, and specialty sweeteners.
“We are significantly sharpening our focus on the needs of customers in the Asia-Pacific region. Our intent is to work more closely with our customers to deliver distinctive value,” said the spokesperson.
The spokesperson said the new unit would focus on demand for health and nutrition ingredients in the region. “We can confirm that the market for the products in the region supports the demand.”
A survey report by UK-based research firm Mintel revealed 72% of Chinese consumers are trying to avoid drinks with artificial ingredients and 75% wanting to buy drinks with natural ingredients.
According to Cargill, the new unit would comprise assets of Cargill Texturizing Solutions and Cargill Health & Nutrition in the Asia-Pacific region (except for the Cargill Health & Nutrition activities in Japan).
Cargill Specialty Asia would encompass business operations in 13 countries, including five manufacturing facilities in Mainland China, one manufacturing facility in the Philippines, and sales offices across the Asia region, it said.
The unit would cover four application centers located in Beijing, Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo, that the company hopes will be able to promptly respond to the application and development needs of its Asian customers.
