UK-based Muntons Malted Ingredients (MMI) has had an agreement with Barentz covering France and Italy in the bakery and food markets for some time. It has now decided to extend this to cover Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Poland and Romania.
MMI channel partner manager Chloe Richardson told FoodNavigator.com that the company has been distributing to most of these countries for several years, but it has been impressed with the business brought by Barentz in the markets it was covering.
Munton’s malt flours, malted flakes, liquid extracts and dried malt extracts can be used in traditional foods, such as baked products, confectionery, malted beverages and breakfast cereals, to add colour, flavour and texture. Richardson believes this gives them a wide appeal across different markets.
“Everyone has their own original recipes,” she said.
Sales and marketing director Andrew Suett pointed out that MMI’s offering fits well with the rest of Barentz portfolio. MMI will be able to reach new customers it has not previously had access to, as its malted ingredients will be presented to companies that are already buying other products sold by Barentz.
Barentz's distribution set up covers 28 counties, with 400 people dedicated to the food, feed, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and chemical sectors.
Innovation
Last year MMI opened its new centre of excellence in Stowmarket in the UK, where the company is based. This called for an investment of £0.5m, and its focus is on bakery and brewing ingredients.
In addition to its malted ingredients division, Muntons has divisions dedicated to grain malts for brewing and distilling, and home beer. In 2008 Muntons Plc had a turnover of £72m.