The French company has invested over $10 million to increase capacity at its Normandy-based plant, which can produce more than 35,000 tons of acacia fiber annually.
The investment covers a range of facilities, including a new spray dryer to enhance productivity and energy performance. Nexira has three acacia fiber processing lines on its French site. Further significant investments are planned for the rest of 2022 and beyond that, through 2023, said the company in a press release.
“With these investments, we are significantly increasing our production capabilities, while pursuing a strategic focus on the health and nutrition markets and reducing our carbon footprint,” said Mathieu Dondain, General Manager Development of Nexira.
“We are confirming our leadership in acacia with a market share of over 40% and are further accelerating our diversification by adding new natural and organic ingredients to our portfolio.”
Dietary fiber status
Dondain added that the demand for acacia fiber is increasing in many markets around the world, but notably in the United States following the Food and Drug Administration’s recent decision to grant dietary fiber status to acacia.
According to the FDA, dietary fiber can be declared on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts labels if it includes naturally occurring fibers that are "intrinsic and intact" in plants and added isolated or synthetic non-digestible soluble and insoluble carbohydrates that the FDA has determined have physiological effects that benefit human health.
Based on available evidence from observational and intervention studies, the FDA said it has determined that the scientific evidence supports that gum acacia can help reduce blood glucose and insulin levels after it is eaten with a meal containing a carbohydrate that raises blood glucose levels.
The decision to add acacia to the FDA's definition of dietary fiber is in response to a citizen petition filed in January 2021 from several industry suppliers of the ingredient including Nexira, Alland & Robert, and Importers Service Corporation.
“Our new production capacities will allow us to meet this demand not only for acacia fiber but also other natural ingredients; we have additional long-term plans for production in the U.S. to better serve our customers on the North American continent,” added Dondain.
inavea acacia fiber
FDA granted acacia "dietary fiber" status in December 2021, an announcement that was welcomed by Nexira for its American customers who use the company’s branded inavea and Fibregum ingredients. Nexira’s inavea acacia fiber has a minimum of 90% fiber content, is certified FODMAP-friendly, and has prebiotic effects.