With the opening of a fourth production line at its factory in Saint-Aubin sur Gaillon, Normandy, Alland & Robert is increasing its production capacity by 50 percent while continuing to pursue its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Beyond Acacia®, a new range boasting innovative technical characteristics, will be produced at the site.

Major investments to meet rising demand for acacia gum

After two years of upgrade work, the Saint-Aubin sur Gaillon facility, first opened in 2007, has been expanded: a new drying tower and adjacent workshop have been added to the two existing towers, doubling the production facility from 8,000m² to 16,000m². 

In order to undertake this facility upgrade, the company mobilised investments of over €11 million. With the opening of this new production line, Alland & Robert will have the capacity to process almost 30,000 metric tons of acacia gum per year, up from 20,000 today – a 50 percent increase in production capacity. This investment will enable the company to keep pace with the sharp rise in global demand. At the local level, there will be a real impact in terms of employment, with over 30 jobs being created by the new production line.

The creation of this new production line confirms the desire of Charles Alland, who succeeded his father as head of the company last March, to pursue Alland & Robert’s growth and business diversification, alongside investments aiming to achieve the company’s carbon emissions reduction goals. In effect, acacia gum holds significant potential for development in various industries where there is an underlying preference for natural and plant-based products. 

The scale of this investment reflects Alland & Robert’s ongoing success, with the company pursuing its development in various international markets and now exporting natural gums to over 70 countries. Indeed, the growing market for acacia gum – an ingredient that is natural, vegan, and healthy – aligns perfectly with modern consumer expectations.

A new production line that will contribute to the fulfilment of Alland & Robert’s environmental commitments

These massive investments are aligned with the goals of Alland & Robert’s CSR plan, as well as its sustainable development goals. In accordance with the 2015 Paris Agreement, the family-run company has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 20% per kilo of gum manufactured (scopes 1, 2, and 3) by 2025.

Improving energy efficiency in the acacia gum manufacturing process constitutes a major lever in this regard. With this new production line, the company is taking another step towards achieving its objectives and further reducing its direct and indirect emissions (including scopes 1, 2, and 3 of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol).

Beyond Acacia®: high-density acacia gum granules

The new Beyond Acacia® range is the fruit of over two years of research and development at Alland & Robert, with the aim of meeting market expectations. The Beyond Acacia® range brings high-density granulometry to the table, enabling the creation of an innovative and sustainable range of gums. All the functional properties of acacia gum are preserved: once dissolved, the quality is identical to that of the regular and instant ranges.

These characteristics offer a host of benefits for industrial operators using acacia gum in their products in various sectors: cosmetics, confectionery, soft drinks, pharmaceuticals, etc. This new range also showcases Alland & Robert’s commitments to the environment and its sector’s ethical standards, notably via its achievement of the FAIR FOR LIFE certification.

With Beyond Acacia®, the volume of acacia gum required to obtain a net weight of 100 grams is 32 percent lower than with an instant acacia gum.

Using an innovative processing procedure, Beyond Acacia® is a highly soluble gum that’s easier to use. Its new granularity ensures excellent hydration properties (superior to those of a standard gum), which maximise the efficiency of the dispersion process. It offers optimized solubility, even at cold temperatures. The occurrence of foam during this process is reduced, as are quantities of particles, which also improves fluidity and reduces the occurrence of graininess. 

The Normandy Region has supported Alland & Robert by financing our new production workshop to the tune of €500,000.

Beyond Acacia®, a range committed to reducing the carbon footprint

The transformation used to make high-density granules produces a much lower volume of carbon emissions. Moreover, the Beyond Acacia® range’s improved solubility and dispersion capacity enables a reduction in energy use during the end user’s industrial process, as their production phase will require less time and energy to complete. In addition, these granules dissolve completely without being heated, even at high levels of concentration.

Improved energy performance in the manufacturing process, lower emissions, a reduction in emissions both upstream and downstream in the value chain – these various aspects have been verified by an independent consulting firm specialising in carbon footprint calculations, making Beyond Acacia® the only range with a global and thorough approach to reducing direct and indirect emissions¹.

Alland & Robert, Global Expert In Acacia Gum 

Founded in 1884 and based in Normandy, Alland & Robert remains a 100% French family-run company. What’s the secret to its success? The company’s unfailing commitment to sustainable, respectful, and high-quality development.

¹ Including scopes 1, 2, and 3 of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Scopes 1, 2, and 3 provide a means of categorising the various types of carbon emissions that a company creates during its own operations and throughout its wider value chain. Scope 2 includes direct and indirect emissions, while scope 3 includes all emissions associated with the company both upstream and downstream in its value chain. Scope 3 effectively acts as an evaluation of a product’s environmental impact.