Cognis, a worldwide supplier of non-GMO plant sterol esters, has established a new facility at Illertissen, Germany. The company says the new plant will help it meet the growing consumer interest in healthy eating and functional foods and dietary supplements.

The new $25 million high-performance facility will reinforce the Cognis’ leading position as a supplier of plant sterol esters and Tonalin® conjugated linoleic acids. The new facility at Cognis’ International Nutrition & Health Competence Center represents the largest single investment the company has made since it was founded in 1999. The Illertissen facility adds to Cognis’ sterols production plants in Kankakee, Ill. and in Boussens, France. It will primarily increase production capacity for its successful plant sterol esters product line. Due to their ability to lower cholesterol levels by reducing the uptake of this substance in the bloodstream, demand for plant sterol esters is growing all over the world, especially in Europe.