Scoular plans to install a soybean dehuller at its Covington, Ohio, facility to meet growing demand from food and beverage customers, the company announced.
The investment will create opportunities for producers who supply identity-preserved, non-GMO and organic soybeans to the facility. Scoular expects the dehuller to operate by mid-2027.
Covington will become Scoular’s second dehulling facility. The company added a dehuller at its Andres, Illinois, facility in 2023, and demand for dehulled soybeans continues to grow.
The Covington facility has established itself as a supplier of food-grade soybeans for domestic and global markets through its grower network and cleaning and color-sorting equipment, which make it suited for a dehulling operation.
Global consumer demand for plant-based beverages continues to rise, with projected annual increases of nearly 14 percent through 2032, said Matt O’Hern, Scoular general manager.
Dehulled soybeans are used in plant-based foods and beverages, including soymilk. Manufacturers often prefer dehulled soybeans because of their higher protein concentration and faster water absorption, O’Hern said.
“Our investment at Covington is a direct result of the relationships we’ve built with both customers and producers,” O’Hern said. “Our customers are growing and are looking for a reliable, long-term supply of high-quality dehulled soybeans, creating additional demand and opportunities for our producers who have made Covington a trusted supplier.”
