Ingredion Incorporated, which operates one of Cedar Rapids’ largest manufacturing facilities, announced plans last week to acquire British food ingredient company Tate & Lyle PLC in an all-cash deal valuing the combined transaction at approximately $5 billion, while separately completing the acquisition of a patented prebiotic fiber ingredient.
The Westchester, Ill.-based company — whose Cedar Rapids plant is a major employer and one of the largest corn wet milling operations in the world — said the Tate & Lyle acquisition would create a scaled global provider of specialty ingredient solutions across texturants, sugar reduction and fortification.
“Combining Ingredion and Tate & Lyle’s complementary portfolios establishes a global leader in ingredient solutions with the innovation expertise and geographic reach that will help create the future of food,” said Jim Zallie, Ingredion’s chairman, president and chief executive officer. “The combined business will be better positioned to serve customers’ needs for the development of great-tasting, healthier and affordable food products that consumers demand.”
Tate & Lyle’s board of directors unanimously recommended the offer to shareholders. David Hearn, chair of Tate & Lyle, said the company had been successfully repositioned in recent years as a specialty food and beverage solutions business and expressed confidence in the combination.
“The Board of Tate & Lyle believes Ingredion’s offer represents an attractive opportunity for shareholders to crystalise value in cash, and that it will be an excellent steward of Tate & Lyle,” Mr. Hearn said.
Ingredion said the deal would bring together complementary geographic supply networks across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific. The transaction value was calculated using the pound sterling to U.S. dollar exchange rate as of June 5.
Separately, Ingredion on June 2 announced it had acquired Benicaros, a patented prebiotic fiber derived from upcycled carrot pomace that has been clinically shown to support immune health. The acquisition is structured as an asset deal and includes full ownership of all intellectual property, trademarks, human clinical trial data and manufacturing know-how.
Benicaros is water-soluble and has minimal effect on taste, texture or odor, making it suitable for use in functional foods, beverages and dietary supplements. The ingredient is designed to stimulate beneficial gut bacteria and deliver immune health benefits at low daily dosage levels — an advantage over traditional prebiotic fibers that typically require higher intake and can present formulation challenges.
“As we expand our functional ingredients offering, Benicaros’ versatility and health benefits makes it a perfect fit for our portfolio,” said Nate Yates, Ingredion’s vice president and general manager of sugar reduction and fiber fortification. “This highly differentiated prebiotic carrot fiber addresses the limitations of traditional prebiotic fibers that require high daily intake, have tolerance issues and formulation challenges.”
Mr. Yates added that the ingredient’s origin in upcycled carrot juice production further supports sustainability and circular-economy goals.
Ingredion serves customers in more than 120 countries and reported approximately $7.2 billion in net sales in 2025. The company employs more than 11,000 people globally and operates innovation centers in multiple markets.
