PureCircle has marked the completion of a $42 million expansion of its stevia plant in Malaysia with a ceremony attended by the Minister of Energy, Green Technology & Water, Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Maximus Johnity Ongkili.PureCircle has a deep commitment to making stevia a mainstream ingredient and claims to be the only company that has this type and scale of production facility in the stevia industry.

This major expansion of PureCircle’s facilities will enable the Company to double its production capacity and focus on even more efficient extraction and processing from sustainably grown stevia leaf and purification for its next generation of pioneering stevia ingredients.

Innovations that have been incorporated into the new facilities include a dedicated line, specifically designed for PureCircle’s Zeta Family ingredients – these are comprised of the most sugar-like steviol glycosides, such as Reb M and Reb D, and allow for the deepest calorie reductions by food and beverage companies.

This investment will ensure that PureCircle remains at the forefront of innovation to deliver the best tasting products, at a scale that fits with the needs of global brands, as well as benefiting farmers and their communities. The fully automated expansion in Enstek, Malaysia, will bring the employment of the full facility to almost 600 people.

Commenting on this major milestone in the Company’s history, PureCircle’s Group CEO Magomet Malsagov, said: “PureCircle is committed to a substantial ongoing investment programme to ensure that our customers – global food and beverages brands – have year-round access to the highest quality stevia leaf extract that is consistent, sustainably grown and made from the best tasting stevia plant varieties. The expansion of our extraction and processing operations will benefit not only of our customers but also our employees, the farmers and communities we work with, and our end consumers around the world.”

The Minister of Energy, Green Technology & Water, Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Maximus Johnity Ongkili, added: “PureCircle is a significant force for good on the global stage for not only reducing calories but also in the overall fight against obesity. The Company’s investment in their cutting-edge facilities will also create hundreds of new jobs in Malaysia. It will be a hive of innovation, the product of which will be exported around the world. We are very proud to have PureCircle’s production and R&D facilities in Malaysia. They are a key employer in the region and I commend what they are doing as global leaders in their field.”