EKA To Expand Into Production Of Liquid Fructose For F&B Industry

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 18 (Bernama) -- EKA Noodles Bhd has signed a memorandum of understanding with Anhui Huijia Biological Science and Technology Co Ltd (HuiJia) for the technology transfer on the production of liquid fructose and extraction of rice protein powder in Malaysia. In a statement Monday, EKA said, HuiJia, based in Anhui Province, China, specialised in the production of liquid fructose. "Fructose is a nutritive sweetener made from, among others, broken rice by undergoing enzymatic processing to produce a sweet compound containing high levels of fructose," said EKA. EKA said it has been on active lookout for new strategic business opportunities to expand and diversify its product range and other complementary businesses. "Liquid fructose has been identified as EKA’s new product, which is a relevant extension to the existing products range, in view of its competencies in sourcing and processing broken rice," it said. EKA Group Managing Director, Chin Seak Huat, said this was a tremendous business opportunity for the company in view of the ready supply of broken rice in the northern region as well as the ready demand from the processed food and beverage industries in Malaysia and ASEAN countries for liquid fructose. "This alternative sugar is about 20-40 per cent cheaper than the traditional raw sugar and the competitive advantage of our new product is dependent on the highly volatile raw sugar price and our economy of scale of the production line for this product," he said. Chin said the company also intended to tap the vast soft drinks market in Malaysia and the ASEAN region by partnering with local and/or regional soft drinks. -- BERNAMA