UK First as Bowman Ingredients Opens New £8 Million ‘Free From’ Factory
The UK’s first manufacturing facility dedicated solely to the production of gluten-free, egg and dairy free crumb systems and coatings, including batter mixes, pre-dusts and dry mix marinades, is now fully operational following a £8 million investment by food coatings firm Bowman Ingredients.
Featuring the latest production equipment and enhanced processing technology, the new plant has a total production capacity of 15,000 tonnes per annum of gluten-free, egg and dairy free coatings. The 40,000 sq ft building on the Elms Farm Industrial Estate in Bedford houses a brand new state-of-the-art manufacturing and blending plant, as well as warehousing and general office accommodation. The factory recently achieved Grade A in its first British Retail Consortium inspection.
Bowman Ingredients supplies food manufacturers worldwide with a range of gluten-free coatings for retail and foodservice products. Typical applications include coatings for convenience foods such as fish, poultry and vegetables. Gluten-free rusk is also used as a binding and textural aid in meat products, such as burgers and sausages.
Rory Bowman, chief executive of Bowman Ingredients, comments: “We have been at the forefront of innovation in gluten-free and Free From food coatings for 15 years but this investment takes us to a whole new level. We are now able to supply the volumes we need to meet increasing demand from our customers in the UK and Europe.”
He adds: “As well as expanding production, our dedicated gluten-free, egg and dairy free blending plant will allow us to develop new products, increase flexibility and improve response times. All products are manufactured to a specification of less than 5ppm (parts per million) of gluten, to ensure the highest level of brand protection for our customers.”
Major supermarkets and restaurant chains are driving the growth of the Free From sector across Europe to meet increasing consumer demand. The European gluten-free market is now estimated to be worth over Eur700 million, with analysts predicting significant growth over the next decade.
As well as being a major player in the supply of Free From crumb systems, Bowman Ingredients also produces a full range of coatings for frozen and chilled food including value added meat, poultry, fish, potato and vegetable products. The company works in partnership with food processors around the globe to develop products for major retailers and quick service restaurant chains worldwide.
Bowman Ingredients develops concepts and supplies coatings for many well-known chicken products served in market-leading quick service restaurants across the UK, Europe and Russia. With its headquarters and production facilities in the UK, the company also has manufacturing sites in South Africa, Australia and Thailand.
