IMCD partners with SGProtein to develop new plant-based concepts

Speciality ingredients distributor IMCD is partnering with Singapore-based SGProtein, a contract manufacturing platform for high-moisture extrusion (HME) meat and fish analogues.

The partnership allows IMCD’s technical experts to develop innovative concepts with SGProtein’s high-moisture meat analogues (HMMAs).

Leveraging on a high-capacity extrusion system, HMMA is produced in various shapes, replicating a meat-like appearance with a similar sensorial experience on taste and texture.

Meat alternatives have seen an increasing demand globally, with Innova market insights data showing that 50% of Asian consumers regularly consume meat alternatives.

SGProtein’s plant-based food production through high-moisture extrusion (HME) caters to an initial capacity of 3000 tons of plant-based meat analogue per annum from its facility in Singapore, which will quadruple over the next two years to 12,000 tons.

“With the offering of SGProtein’s clean label product range, food manufacturers have access to the latest developments on textured protein that delivers on taste, function and texture,” said Dominique Kull, the co-founder of SGProtein.

“This offering saves our customers a lot on base development costs as well as on investments in infrastructure. It also allows our customers to shorten their time to market to launch innovative products,” Kull explained.

“Our technical experts in IMCD Thailand’s pilot plant offer Asian cooking concepts, like Thai curry and rendang, created from plant-based meat strips or chunks from SGProtein with the addition of taste solutions such as flavours, seasonings and batters, to meet consumers’ expectations on naturality and health. Their meat analogue comes with a list of only five ingredients,” highlighted Wanlin Koh, Regional Technical Manager of IMCD Food & Nutrition APAC.

“We have experienced many market successes with our partners. In part, we have achieved this by offering them exclusive access to unique solutions and in-depth knowledge to co-create concepts around taste, texture and nutrition,” commented Emmanuel Colette Regional Business Group Director of IMCD Food & Nutrition APAC.

“We are pleased to expand our solutions on meat and fish alternatives by offering SGProtein products from Singapore to the APAC region, and we invite food producers to reach out to us for fast development of customised and innovative concepts,” Colette added.

Image caption: Emmanuel Colette, Regional Business Group Director of IMCD Food & Nutrition APAC (left), and Dominique Kull, Co-Founder of SGProtein (right).