Jungbunzlauer Canada Inc. has announced a significant $200 million investment to establish Canada’s first-ever xanthan gum facility in Port Colborne, Ontario. This groundbreaking project marks a major expansion of the company’s North American presence and reinforces its commitment to sustainability and community development.
“This expansion in Port Colborne marks a significant milestone for our North American business,” said Bruno Tremblay, CEO of Jungbunzlauer. “This site not only reinforces our commitment to providing our partners with top-quality, natural biogums but also highlights our dedication to sustainability and to the local community.”
The new facility, expected to be operational by Spring 2026, will produce biodegradable xanthan gum, a versatile thickening agent used in various industries, including food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. The expansion will enable Jungbunzlauer to meet growing demand across North America while maintaining its focus on environmental responsibility.
Dignitaries, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Vic Fedeli, Niagara South MP Vance Badawey, Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff, and Port Colborne Mayor William Steele, joined the company for the official groundbreaking ceremony. The event celebrated the importance of this investment to the local community and the broader region.
“… Friends, our government is going to keep working hard, together with the mayor and council, to create the conditions for jobs to grow and businesses to prosper here in Port Colborne. Thank you again to the team at JBL for your investment and for your continued confidence in our province and our people. I wish you the best of luck in the years ahead. Thank you all, and may God bless the people of Ontario…,” said Ontario Premier, Doug Ford.
“We've been a proud part of the Port Colborne community for more than 20 years. In that time, we’ve invested $560 million into our local facility to expand capacity and improve sustainability. As we look ahead to the next ten years, we expect to continue to make significant investments in capacity, sustainability, and the community,” Tremblay added. “On top of our capital investment, the jobs, services, and local purchases from our facility add approximately $20 million to Port Colborne’s economy every year.”
The first phase of the expansion will create around 50 new high-value jobs and contribute to an estimated 300 construction jobs over the coming years. The state-of-the-art facility will feature advanced technologies for energy efficiency and sustainability, including wastewater recycling and heat recovery systems. By leveraging locally sourced Ontario corn, the plant aims to minimize its environmental footprint and contribute to Jungbunzlauer’s broader goal of carbon neutrality.
“Jungbunzlauer’s expansion shows very clearly that international companies looking for a strategic foothold in North America will find Ontario is the best place to invest,” said Michael Fedchyshyn, Interim CEO of Invest Ontario.
This strategic investment is part of Jungbunzlauer’s long-term vision to expand its biogum production in North America. It also highlights the company’s commitment to sustainability, with the new facility set to bolster its production of biodegradable ingredients without increasing its carbon footprint.
With this expansion, Jungbunzlauer is poised to play an even more significant role in the North American market, providing high-quality, sustainable products to a range of industries.
Jungbunzlauer (JBL) was featured by Reveal Magazines as one of the Notable Companies in Niagara, highlighting the company’s contributions to economic development in the Niagara region. The company plans to collaborate with local educational institutions to create research and career opportunities, further embedding itself in the community.
