New Facility to Drive Innovation in Potato-Based Ingredients for Global Food Industry
KMC has officially opened a new 5,000 square meter Innovation Center, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to advancing plant-based cuisine. With an investment of USD 14.3 million, this state-of-the-art facility enhances KMC’s capacity for innovation and solidifies its position as the world’s leading producer of potato-based ingredients.
In 2023, KMC achieved record-breaking sales of USD 488.1 million, reflecting the company’s strong belief in the future of plant-based solutions in the food industry. This optimism is shared by the 600-700 potato growers who own the company, recognizing the strategic importance of their investment in the Innovation Center.
Jesper Burgaard, CEO of KMC, emphasized the growing significance of plant-based solutions: “The plant-based agenda is growing rapidly, and KMC is ready to provide sustainable plant-based solutions to the food industry. Our Innovation Center is central to this strategy and will play a crucial role in establishing a Danish stronghold within bio-solutions and the production of future plant-based foods.”
KMC exports its products to over 90 countries. The new Innovation Center will facilitate cutting-edge collaborations with clients, allowing experts to provide guidance on enhancing product value with potato-derived ingredients such as starch, fiber, and proteins. These components are vital for a variety of food products, including bread, noodles, chips, snacks, and plant-based cheeses and sauces. KMC’s dedication to sustainability aims to replace animal-based products with plant-based alternatives, leveraging the low climate footprint of potatoes.
Burgaard further highlighted KMC’s environmental contributions: “The potato has a low climate footprint and provides many calories per hectare. Therefore, KMC’s work plays an important role in efforts to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions through Danish technologies.”
The consolidation of KMC’s development department in the larger facility will enable better knowledge sharing and the hiring of more professionals to meet the increasing demand for specialized expertise in potato-based products.
