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Beneo has opened its first pulse-processing plant in Obrigheim, Germany, following an investment of around €50 million by its parent company, the Südzucker Group.

The facility will process locally grown pulses, including faba beans, for use in food and feed production.

The new plant sits next to Beneo's existing site where it produces its sugar replacer Isomalt and the company's smart carbohydrate Palatinose.

Covering an area of around 4,000 square metres, the new site will create up to 25 jobs and is designed with a focus on sustainability. It operates entirely on renewable electricity, includes a rooftop solar system, and repurposes production waste heat to warm the building. No water is required in the pulse-processing stage, and all raw materials are used, aligning with a zero-waste approach.

Beneo said that the faba bean itself also plays a "key role in sustainable agriculture, as pulses require no nitrogen fertiliser and enhance the soil quality for future crops".

Niels E. Hower, member of Beneo’s executive board, said: “What began more than 30 years ago with the processing of beet sugar into ingredients with added health benefits is now being continued at the new plant. The faba bean is a legume with a long history. Here in Obrigheim, we will process it into high-quality, plant-based ingredients that will contribute to future-proofed nutrition.”

The launch comes as consumer demand grows for plant-based and flexitarian diets. Beneo said its investment responds to rising interest in pulse-based proteins for products like meat and dairy alternatives and egg replacements.