Premier Doug Ford announced Ontario taxpayers will be contributing $4.8 million to support the new facility through Invest Ontario. Pictured: Ontario Premier Doug Ford, along with Cabinet members and Jungbunzlauer officials, at the groundbreaking ceremony. Photo Credit: Doug Ford/X.
On Sept. 24, Jungbunzlauer, a multinational corporate giant best known for high-quality and sustainable natural ingredients for food, as well as personal care products, joined federal, provincial, and municipal dignitaries in Port Colborne to break ground on a transformational $200-million xanthan gum production facility. The hub, which will be the first of its kind in Canada, will fill a critical role in meeting the demand for essential edibles, as well as health products throughout North America and beyond, expanding on Jungbunzlauer’s long-standing operations in Port Colborne of more than twenty years.
“We noted the opportunity to service the needs of the biogum markets in North America,” Jungbunzlauer CEO Bruno Tremblay told The Niagara Independent. “We identified Ontario, and Port Colborne, specifically, as an ideal location for producing our products, because of its leadership in decarbonized power, tremendous proximity to the United States, as well as ease of access to various means of transportation for our goods.”
Xanthan gum serves as a thickening ingredient and is an integral component in various foods, beverages, confections, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. The Port Colborne facility will make use of Niagara’s agricultural strengths, such as local Ontario corn, while also utilizing innovative natural fermentation technologies to ensure a carbon-neutral and environmentally friendly production process.
“Your company (Jungbunzlauer) has been a big part of this community, and its economy for over two decades, and we’re thrilled to join you today to celebrate your tremendous success here in Ontario, and your $200-million investment to open a new state-of-the-art facility on this site,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who visited Port Colborne to mark the occasion. “And, I’m pleased to announce that our government is supporting your expansion with a $4.8 million investment through Invest Ontario,” Ford stated later in his remarks.
The premier was joined by Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Vic Fedeli, as well as Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff.
“Now, once complete, Jungbunzlauer’s expansion to their existing footprint on this site will create Canada’s first ever manufacturing facility for xanthan gum, and will cement Port Colborne’s place as a key player in Ontario’s manufacturing ecosystem,” Fedeli shared in celebration of the historic day.
“This expansion by Jungbunzlauer Canada is bringing good-paying jobs to Port Colborne, boosting the local economy and adding to the exciting growth we are seeing in Niagara,” said Oosterhoff. “The new facility will also source local Ontario grain corn, supporting our diverse agricultural sector.”
“Our government is ensuring the energy infrastructure is in place to support projects like this, keeping Ontario manufacturing competitive, attracting more investment and building a stronger local economy for the future,” Oosterhoff added.
It is expected that the expansion will take place in stages, with Phase 1 slated to be up and running by spring 2026. Biodegradable xanthan gum would begin being produced at this time. Phase 1 will generate as many as 50 quality jobs in Port Colborne, with more expected to be added in the coming years. Furthermore, it has been projected that as many as 300 construction jobs could be created as a result of the project over the next decade.
“We’ve been a proud part of the Port Colborne community for more than twenty years,” said Tremblay. “In that time, we’ve invested $560 million into our local facility to expand capacity and improve sustainability. As we look ahead to the next ten years, we expect to continue to make significant investments in capacity, sustainability and community. On top of our capital investment, the jobs, services and local purchases from our facility add approximately $20 million to Port Colborne’s economy every year.”
“We are immensely grateful for the support we have received from the various levels of government and we are incredibly excited about the growth prospects for the years ahead.”
Those interested in learning more about Jungbunzlauer can do so at the following link: Jungbunzlauer.
Nick Redekop completed his Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Labour Studies at Brock University. He has previously served in municipal and federal politics. In his free time, Nick enjoys following sports, taking part in outdoor activities, and reading biographies. Nick resides in Niagara Falls
