The transaction is subject to governmental approval which is expected later in the year.

Winway operates from a manufacturing facility and laboratories in Nantong, Jiangsu province, where it produces a range of polydextrose products which are sold to customers in China and worldwide. Tate & Lyle intends to invest in the Nantong facility over the next two years to expand capacity and enhance its speciality fiber product offering. Nantong will become Tate & Lyle’s third polydextrose facility globally, in addition to existing lines in the Netherlands and the United States.

Polydextrose is a low-calorie bulking agent and dietary fiber. It plays a key role in replacing the technical functionality of sugar, providing bulk, body, texture and mouthfeel in reduced-calorie, no-added-sugar and/or high-fiber foods. A soluble dietary fiber with prebiotic properties, polydextrose helps support gastrointestinal health, is well tolerated, has a low glycemic/blood glucose response, and is clean tasting and easy to use.

Polydextrose is one of Tate & Lyle’s growing range of speciality fibers.

Olivier Rigaud, president, Speciality Food Ingredients for Tate & Lyle, said, “The acquisition of Winway provides us with an excellent platform from which to accelerate the growth of our specialty fibres business in Asia Pacific, and to expand our Health and Wellness offering globally.”