VERONA, MO. – Ingredient manufacturer Kemin Industries broke ground on a new production plant for clean-label protein ingredients for meat, poultry and protein-based applications.

The planned 38,000-square-foot production plant is scheduled to open in March 2023. It represents a $40 million investment for Kemin Food Technologies – Americas to manufacture its Proteus portfolio of patented, clean-label protein ingredients. Kemin acquired Proteus Industries in April.

“With its technologically advanced, sustainable and clean-label attributes, our Proteus line is in high demand with food processors that provide meat, poultry and protein-based products to consumers,” said Dr. Chris Nelson, president and chief executive officer, Kemin Industries. “The Proteus products help to improve yield, nutrition and quality of functional foods, and with this new facility, we’ll be able to serve and expand our customers in the food technologies space.”

The company expects to employ more than 30 full-time workers in the Verona community once the plant is fully operational, Kemin said. The site will have an initial capacity to create applications for more than 100 billion lbs. of meat, poultry and protein-based ingredients that allow food processors to produce meat products with improved quality and patented clean-label ingredients.

Kemin has had a presence in Missouri since 2011, when Kemin Nutrisurance, the company’s pet food and rendering technologies business unit, opened its first manufacturing facility. Today, Kemin has two locations in Missouri – the facility in Verona and another in Sarcoxie – which together employ 60 area residents.

“Southwest Missouri has served as an excellent place for Kemin’s production capabilities and will continue to be a great community to expand our manufacturing opportunities,” Nelson said. “We believe that Verona and the surrounding areas provide a talented and dedicated workforce ideal to grow our global footprint and transform the quality of life.”