IRVING, TEXAS — Darling Ingredients Inc. announced July 15 its Rousselot business has commissioned the production of collagen peptides at its facility in Ghent, Belgium. The company’s Ghent facility will exclusively produce collagen peptide products.

"We are excited to announce the commissioning of this production facility in Ghent," said Randall C. Stuewe, chairman and chief executive officer of Darling Ingredients. "Expanding our global production of hydrolyzed collagen is an important part of our strategy moving forward.

“Our Rousselot business has been producing bovine collagen peptides in Brazil and porcine collagen peptides in Angoulême, France and we have recently completed construction of a new state of the art production unit dedicated to fish collagen peptides in Angoulême as well,” Stuewe added.

The first batches of porcine collagen produced at this site will be available globally starting this month. Fish collagen peptides will be available in August. Rousselot has also added bovine collagen peptide production capabilities at its Angoulême facility.

The company is currently constructing its fourth collagen peptide production facility, which will be located in Presidente Epitacio, Brazil. The plant is expected to be operational in October.

"It was vital to review our production and supply chain organization and to build new production capabilities, able not only to respond to the strong collagen market growth but also to produce the collagens of superior quality that our customers and the consumers demand," said Jos Vervoort, executive vice president of Rousselot.

In addition to its collagen peptide production plant, Rousselot currently operates an Expertise Center in Ghent, which includes its global research and development facility, application labs for the EMEA region, and a Pilot Hall.

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