Commercial director Michel Dewael told us the €70m firm said the expansion would not mea nit was ending its ‘high-end, high value’ proposition for its Pisane branded pea protein variant that has been growing in value by 20% in recent years.
Plant proteins typically sell for about €5 per kilogram but prices vary depending on source and application. Plant proteins like pea or soy used in meat applications are typically cheaper for instance.
“Our focus is on high-value nutritional pea protein and that strategy will not changes,” Dewael said.
“Our growth has mainly come from western markets where the incomes are high enough to afford these kinds of products but we are also looking to Asia now as incomes rise there and interest in healthy foods.”
He said interest was also being driven by the sustainability credentials of pea proteins, which Cosucra sources locally in Belgium.
There were 1.6 million tonnes of plant proteins produced in 2011, according to Frost & Sullivan.
Application areas include sport, medical nutrition, seniors, vegetarians and diet nutrition.
The new line will be operational in 2015.