Cargill Invests to Expand Beijing Plant

Cargill Invests to Expand Beijing Plant

Deepening Local Operations and Regional Synergy, Cargill Adds New Momentum to Drive the Upgrade of the Functional Systems Supply Chain

January 28th, 2026, Beijing - Today, Cargill officially broke ground on the expansion of its Beijing plant in Changping District. With a total investment exceeding RMB 45 million, the project will feature two new independent production lines for flavored powdered beverages and flavored frozen coatings, alongside a high bay warehouse. The expanded plant is expected to be operational in the first half of 2027.

As a key initiative in Cargill's strategy to deepen local operations and increase investment in China, the Beijing plant expansion will further strengthen Cargill's overall footprint in three high-growth segments: foodservice, beverages, and convenience foods. Upon completion, the project will enhance Cargill's comprehensive capabilities in delivering functional systems solutions across China and the Asia-Pacific region. With a broader product portfolio and an expanded certification matrix, Cargill will drive synergies across regional food industry value chains and support high-quality development.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Liu Xiaodong, District Mayor of Changping and Director of the Future Science City Administrative Committee, stated: "The launch of this project marks a key initiative by Cargill to deepen its presence in the China market and expand its operations in Beijing. It will further strengthen the district's bio-manufacturing value chain, promote the agglomeration of upstream and downstream enterprises, and support Changping's efforts to become a leading hub for synthetic biology innovation and industrial development. Adhering to the principle of 'the government provides sunshine and nurturing, while enterprises focus on growth', we will act as a supportive partner, providing the best possible services, creating favorable conditions, and fostering an optimal environment, so that companies can invest with confidence, develop with ease, and operate with peace of mind in Changping."

With over 20 years presence in Changping, Cargill has consistently grown alongside China's food industry, leveraging a "global expertise + local insights" model. Jessie Xue, Vice President & Managing Director of Cargill Food North Asia, emphasized: "China is an important market for Cargill. The expansion of our Beijing plant represents not just an increase in capacity, but another milestone demonstrating our long-term dedication to the China market and unwavering focus on serving local customers. The smooth progress of this project is the result of longstanding trust and support from government authorities at all levels, our partners, and local communities. From this new starting point, Cargill will continue to prioritize customer needs, strengthen local food R&D and production capabilities, and provide our customers in China and Asia Pacific with more diverse and precisely tailored food solutions and services, seizing opportunities presented by the evolving food and beverage market."

Anchored in North China, a Strong Operational Foundation
As Cargill's major production and innovation hub in North China, the original Beijing plant, operational since 2007, has long served leading food companies in China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia. It has gradually evolved into a key hub for delivering innovative functional systems solutions across the Asia-Pacific region. The plant specializes in the R&D and production of compound food additives and has obtained multiple international quality and food safety certifications, including ISO9001, FSSC22000, Halal, and Kosher, establishing a mature and reliable quality management system.

The plant also houses the Cargill Beijing Innovation Center, a key driver of food technology research and application innovation. Each year, the center undertakes around 400 application development projects across multiple food segments, consistently building industry-leading expertise in product innovation and formula optimization. Its work serves both the domestic China market and the broader North Asia and Asia-Pacific region, providing competitive, professional food application solutions.

Strengthening Local Production to Drive Growth
Leveraging the Beijing plant's operational base, R&D capabilities, and quality management system, the expansion will inject new momentum into Cargill's localized development. Driven by Cargill's forward-looking insights into China's future trillion-RMB foodservice, beverage, and convenience food markets, the project will add two independent production lines focused on flavored powdered beverages and flavored frozen coatings, directly addressing high-growth market segments. The flavored powdered beverage line will be coordinated with Cargill's Pinghu flavored syrup line to enhance regional synergy. This integrated setup will provide local foodservice and beverage clients with more flexible, responsive solutions and supply chain support, while also meeting growing demand across the Asia-Pacific region, further strengthening Cargill's service capabilities in the food market.

Importantly, the new lines will expand the Beijing plant's overall production capacity, enabling the production of a more diverse range of functional systems to meet increasing consumer demand for healthy, tasty, and convenient foods. Upon completion, the expansion will broaden Kosher certification scope, complementing existing certifications and further enhancing local supply and service capabilities, contributing to regional food industry upgrades.

Intelligent Manufacturing Upgrade and Digital Empowerment
The Beijing plant expansion project will undergo a systematic upgrade toward a smarter, more efficient production system. New lines will feature advanced vision-guided robotics, integrating high-definition visual systems with intelligent algorithms to automatically identify, pick, label, and trace products of varying specifications, enabling flexible, efficient, and safe operations.

Furthermore, the new lines will achieve a high degree of automation in the production process. Coupled with a data tracking system, they will ensure end-to-end traceability from raw materials to finished products. The accompanying high bay warehouse will utilize multi-zone and temperature-controlled designs to ensure scientific storage and quality preservation, creating a fully digitalized loop from production to warehousing.

These intelligent manufacturing upgrades reflect Cargill's ongoing investment in artificial intelligence and data-driven innovation. With accumulated expertise in automation, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and predictive analytics, Cargill has integrated cutting-edge technology into operations and has been named the BIG Innovation Award winner for the 4th consecutive year, recognized in 2026 as a Top 10 Innovator - Enterprise. The digital upgrade of the Beijing plant demonstrates Cargill's localized innovation, delivering smarter, more reliable production systems to ensure efficient local supply for customers.

With confidence in its long-term local presence, the groundbreaking of the Beijing plant expansion marks a new phase in Cargill's journey in China. Upon completion, the plant will achieve systematic upgrades in capacity, products, R&D, and warehousing, strengthening the innovation capabilities of its functional systems business and the resilience of its regional supply chain. Looking ahead, Cargill will continue to leverage its deepening local footprint and profound understanding of diverse food applications, integrating global expertise with local insight to deliver end-to-end solutions across China and the Asia-Pacific region, empowering partners and driving high-quality development across the food industry.

About Cargill

Cargill is committed to providing food, ingredients, agricultural solutions, and industrial products to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, and sustainable way. Sitting at the heart of the supply chain, we partner with farmers and customers to source, make and deliver products that are vital for living.

Our 155K+ employees innovate with purpose, providing customers with life's essentials so businesses can grow, communities prosper, and consumers live well. With 160 years of experience as a family company, we look ahead while remaining true to our values. We put people first. We reach higher. We do the right thing-today and for generations to come. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.