MALAYSIA – Olam Food Ingredients (Ofi) has unveiled an expansion of its dairy production facility and Ingredient Excellence Center (IEC) located in Johor, Malaysia.
The key addition to the facility is a new milk powder dryer that has the potential to “more than double” the annual production output of functional dairy ingredients and fat-filled milk powder.
This expansion is a part of Ofi’s strategic vision to transform into a value-added ingredients and solutions-oriented organization, catering to customers across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia (EMEA).
Anantharaman Shekhar, CEO at Ofi, emphasized the company’s ability to offer innovative solutions to customers in the region, giving credit to its research and development experts, the global network of innovation centres, and diversified ingredient portfolio.
The IEC has undergone significant upgrades, including new laboratory spaces and research and development equipment. These improvements are intended to aid customers in creating customized solutions for beverages, bakery products, and frozen dairy desserts.
Ofi aims to enhance its customer service model and co-creation capabilities, particularly in high-growth end-use categories like ready-to-drink beverages, premixes, and blending lines.
Sandeep Jain, Managing Director and CEO of Dairy at Ofi pointed out that the demand for nutrition-rich functional dairy ingredients continues to grow, especially in the Middle East and Africa.
He highlighted the expanded capabilities in Malaysia as essential for co-creating products that focus on health, taste, and convenience, tailored to local customer preferences.
In addition to its dairy solutions, Ofi has recently opened a herb processing facility in Beni-Suef, Egypt, expanding its customer offerings in basil, fennel, marjoram, parsley, and dill.
The standout product from the Lactorich range of dairy solutions was the Lactorich Vers, designed to replace whole milk powder in various applications without compromising on taste or texture.
“It offers a rich, creamy mouthfeel and a clean profile without added flavours,” the company noted.
Meanwhile, the company highlighted that the expansion in Malaysia also aligned with its sustainability efforts, incorporating features such as solar power utilization, rainwater harvesting, and a focus on minimizing raw material wastage.
“With increasing demand from our global customer base, we will continue to explore growth opportunities within dairy ingredients that drive additional focus on the value-added capabilities within our portfolio,” Anantharaman Shekhar stated.
“These enhanced facilities are a key part of this, complementing our existing global footprint, supporting greater collaboration with our customers.”
Asia is a significant market for dairy products, leading in milk launches, share by value, and dairy sales. Ofi’s expansion in Malaysia positions the company to further tap into this thriving dairy market.
For all the latest food industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
