Sensient Technologies Corporation (NYSE:SXT) said it plans to invest as much as $250 million to expand its manufacturing capacity, supply chain infrastructure and workforce dedicated to natural food colors, responding to rising demand in the United States for alternatives to synthetic coloring.
The company marked the start of a major expansion project at its natural color facility in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 23. The initiative, known as Project Prism, will add 28,800 square feet of specialized processing and production space to Sensient’s existing 500,000-square-foot manufacturing complex.
“Sensient has taken a defining role in accelerating the industry’s transition to natural color solutions. We are reinforcing our leadership position by making significant investments in capacity and infrastructure to facilitate the natural color conversion in the United States,” said Steve Morris, president of Sensient Colors.
The St. Louis expansion is being carried out in collaboration with engineering firm Burns & McDonnell. The groundbreaking event was attended by Missouri Lieutenant Governor David Wasinger and Karen Branding, president and CEO of the Regional Business Council of St. Louis.
Sensient Technologies, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, produces and supplies colors, flavors and specialty ingredients used in food and beverage products, as well as in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and personal care applications.