Syral to present new structure, sweetener capabilities

Syral is set to unveil its new sales and industrial organisation in October, following the acquisition of Tate & Lyle starch assets that is currently underway, and says it will be able to respond to customers' changing sweetener demands.

The company, which is owned by French sugar group Tereos, is in the throes of acquiring part of Tate & Lyle's European Food and Industrial ingredients division relating to starch and sweetener activities.

Last week the European Commission gave the go-ahead for the transaction after investigating the competitive impact on the market for liquid sweeteners, dry sweeteners, vital wheat gluten and polyols.

A firm date has not yet been given for anticipated closure, but in the meantime, Syral has indicated that the Food Ingredients Europe (FIE) tradeshow in London, October 30 to November 2, will be instrumental in communicating its new organisation to customers.

"Syral will be able to fulfil developing needs of its European food customers for new sweetening formulations," said the company last week, adding that it will now able to offer native and modified starches, in addition to soluble wheat proteins.

Syral also said that the acquisition will give enable it to offer "wider geographical implantation and product portfolio".

In addition, the company has said that it's focus at FIE will be on promoting use of its Maltillite maltitol syrups as sugar replacers.

When combined with its Actilight branded prebiotic fibre the firm says it has been "successfully tested" in reduced sugar-high fibre breakfast cereals and gingerbread.

The Tate & Lyle asset acquisition is expected to be worth between £200m to £220m (€293m to €323m).

As for Tate & Lyle, it is divesting part of its Food & Industrial Ingredients division as these commodity products are no longer part of its strategic focus.

The company is pivoting towards value-added ingredients in light of the impact of EU reform on its sugar operations.