PRESS RELEASE
Charlottesville, VA (January 30, 2023) - ASR Group and Bonumose, Inc. are pleased to announce that tagatose production has commenced at Bonumose’s new commercial production facility and advanced research & development lab. Having developed a proprietary method for producing low-cost tagatose from plant-based starches, Bonumose is at the forefront of using enzymatic processes to make rare sugars at scale. Starting in mid-February, ASR Group will have tagatose available for initial shipments and samples.
A rare sugar that occurs naturally in a variety of foods including fruits and dairy products, tagatose works similarly to sucrose in many applications, is 90% as sweet and has 60% fewer calories. It also offers a number of other advantages as a sweetener. It has a low GI of 3, and it is Ketogenic Certified. Additionally, studies show tagatose to have prebiotic effects, and it recently achieved Non-GMO Project Verified status. For these reasons and more, tagatose is a sought-after ingredient for many leading, global food companies as it can be used to meet calorie-reduction targets and add functional benefits in a variety of categories without comprising taste, texture, or function.
American Sugar Refining, Inc., a member of ASR Group, is among the investors that helped Bonumose achieve tagatose commercial production. ASR Group, the world’s largest cane sugar refiner and marketer, is also Bonumose's exclusive distribution partner in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Western Europe. ASR Group’s research and testing of tagatose in formulations indicate that it performs well across a variety of food and beverage categories.
"Because of the compelling functional and nutritional properties of tagatose, we are seeing strong market interest across a wide variety of food and beverage companies,” said Jim Kappas, ASR Group's Vice President of Specialty Ingredients. “For this reason, Bonumose is fast-tracking plans for a second, larger plant."
Customers interested in receiving samples can complete an online form to be added to ASR Group’s tagatose sample wait list.
To learn more about tagatose and ASR Group’s full spectrum of organic and specialty ingredient products, click here.
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About ASR Group
ASR Group is the world’s largest refiner and marketer of cane sugar, with an annual production capacity of more than 6 million tons of sugar. The company produces a full line of grocery, industrial, foodservice and specialty sweetener products. Across North America, ASR Group owns and operates six sugar refineries, located in New York, California, Maryland, Louisiana, Canada and Mexico. In Europe, the company owns and operates sugar refineries in the United Kingdom, Portugal, and, with a joint venture partner, Italy. ASR Group also farms sugarcane and owns sugar mills in Mexico and Belize. The company’s portfolio includes the leading brands Domino®, C&H®, Florida Crystals®, Redpath®, Tate & Lyle®, Lyle’s® and Sidul®. ASR Group is owned by Florida-based cane sugar producers Florida Crystals Corporation and Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida. ASR Group and its parent companies jointly own Tellus Products, LLC, a maker of compostable tableware and foodservice products from sugarcane and other plant fibers. For more information, visit www.asr-group.com.
About Bonumose, Inc.
Bonumose, Inc. (www.bonumose.com) is an early-stage food ingredient and enzyme innovation company based in Albemarle County, Virginia, recognized by the World Economic Forum as a “Technology Pioneer.” Bonumose is supported by global strategic investors and “food for health”-focused institutional investors, and an expanding network of global collaboration partners across the value chain. Bonumose developed and patented the methods for continuous production of high-purity rare sugars – such as Tagatose and Allulose – from low-cost, plant-based starch. Bonumose’s cost-advantaged processes make possible the global mass-market adoption of healthy, great-tasting, fully-functional rare sugars. Bonumose also can upcycle by-product/sidestream starch left over from its supply chain partners’ food production. Beyond food ingredients, Bonumose also is developing enzyme solutions for dietary supplements, crop protection, animal nutrition, and other globally-significant industries. Bonumose operates with a philosophy of Business as a Moral Imperative.
