Wood sterol plant for EU

US firm Phyto-Source has unveiled plans to build a manufacturing plant in Europe in a bid to cash in on growing demand for cholesterol-busting wood sterols.

Sales and marketing manager Tom Stegmann said: “We are doing site evaluations now, and assuming everything goes to plan, we should be operational in Europe within three years. Frost & Sullivan predicts continued double digit growth in the plant sterols market, and with non-GMO wood sterols, we are perfectly placed to supply the European market.”

Phyto-Source had recently increased capacity at its plant in Houston, Texas, by 40% through “debottling initiatives, technological improvements and capital additions”, said Stegmann. Further expansion at Houston was also planned in the near future, he added.

While the cardiovascular health category was growing fast, it was becoming increasingly crowded and potentially confusing for consumers, as manufacturers experimented with a huge range of ingredients from soy proteins to oat beta-glucan, said Stegmann.