The North American food and beverage sector saw an uptick in capital project announcements last month, according to research compiled by business research firm SalesLeads.
The report detailed 86 major facility expansions and upgrades announced in May, the largest total to date in 2022. The plans include four projects of at least $50 million.
Phyto Organix Foods, a Canadian maker of plant-based protein for the food and beverage industry, announced by far the largest project of the month: a $225 million facility to process yellow peas into high-purity protein isolate in Strathmore, Alberta.
Turkey processor West Liberty Foods announced plans for a $100 million processing facility in its native Iowa, and fellow Iowa company Green Plains will invest $50 million in its ethanol processing facility. Utah wellness firm Blue Core Labs also plans a $50 million processing facility in Beaver, Utah.
Other major projects included a $38 million renovation by South Carolina specialty foods maker E.A. Sween, and construction of a $27 million food processing plant for Iowa’s Ancient Brands Milling.
SalesLeads’ data showed that Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were home to the most projects announced in May at eight each; Michigan accounted for six announced projects, followed by California and Illinois with five and Iowa and Texas with four.
