Ingredion has partnered with Sanstar Limited, a manufacturer of specialty ingredients based in India, acquiring a 9% share in the company as part of its strategic efforts to expand within India’s specialty ingredients sector.
This collaboration aims to leverage Ingredion’s expertise in formulation and product development alongside Sanstar’s strengths in manufacturing and procurement, enhancing the supply chain for ingredients used in food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals.
Under this agreement, the two companies intend to create a greenfield manufacturing plant in India dedicated to the production of vertically integrated specialty ingredients. This facility is projected to focus on creating food and pharmaceutical ingredient products that cater to premium market applications.
According to Ingredion, this joint venture will benefit clients across multiple sectors, including food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and home and beauty products, while also generating export opportunities from India to the broader Asia-Pacific region.
This strategic move coincides with the ongoing growth of India’s specialty starch and functional ingredients market, fueled by increasing domestic consumption, rising pharmaceutical exports, and greater investments in clean-label and sustainable product offerings. Additionally, India is emerging as a crucial manufacturing hub for global ingredient suppliers looking to expand in the region.
Sanstar produces a variety of specialty ingredients derived from corn, such as starches, modified starches, glucose, and dextrose, serving industries like food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, textiles, paper, and animal nutrition.
Ingredion stated that this collaboration enhances its global portfolio of specialty ingredients, as the company seeks to expand its focus on value-added ingredient solutions beyond traditional commodity starch offerings.
Headquartered near Chicago, Ingredion reported about $7.2 billion in annual net sales for 2025 and operates in over 120 countries with a workforce exceeding 11,000 employees worldwide.
Sanstar is publicly traded on both the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India, positioning itself as a technology-driven manufacturer committed to sustainable production and the development of specialty ingredients.