Canadian food processing and packaging company SunOpta has announced plans to add new aseptic packaging capacities at both Modesto, California and Alexandria, Minnesota processing and packaging operations.
The company aims to address the continued growth in the non-dairy and alternative beverage categories it serves at present, with the addition.
As part of this, the company will install an additional multi-serve filler at each operation, and also a single serve (200/250ml) filler at the Modesto operation.
According to the company, each of the new fillers, expected to be in production during the third quarter of 2013, will provide opportunities to bring new products in a new aseptic package format to the market.
SunOpta completed an expansion at the Modesto operation recently with the installation and commissioning of a second processor, increasing processing capacity at the facility by about 50% to meet increased customer demand.
SunOpta chief executive officer Steve Bromley said the expansion of the company's aseptic processing and packaging capabilities continuously will leverage its integrated field to table capacities.
"This is consistent with our strategy to aggressively grow our value-added ingredients and packaged foods portfolio, and leveraging our integrated platform to become a pure play natural and organic foods company," Bromley said.
The company hopes to have total annual production capacity of more than 400 million quarts of shelf-stable beverages, once the filler installations are completed.
