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Lakanto opens Orem manufacturing plant, expands Utah presence

By Genelle Pugmire - | Mar 14, 2023
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Orem Mayor Dave Young, center, presents Lakanto executives with a key to the city during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday, March 13, 2023.
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Stakeholders and employees join in a ribbon-cutting for a new Lakanto manufacturing plant in Orem on Monday, March 13, 2023.

While many companies are looking to foreign lands or inexpensive U.S. locations to set up manufacturing plants, Saraya USA chose to open its new production facility in Orem — its North American production headquarters.

The plant, which opened Monday, is set up with state-of-the-art equipment and capabilities for the company’s popular Lakanto brand products.

The main Lakanto product is a sugar substitute made from monkfruit. Lakanto specializes in a sugar alternative and the company has developed it into a variety of products including cake mixes, BBQ sauces, chocolate bars and more. The monkfruit sugar alternative was originally invented as a way to help people battling diabetes.

The fruit has been used as a sweetener in China for more than 1,000 years. Tibetan monks moved to the highlands of China and grew the fruit that was soon called the monk’s fruit and later monkfruit.

Lakanto products are sold locally at Harmons, Smith’s, Good Earth, Walmart and Sprouts. Outside of Utah, products are also sold in Whole Foods and Albertsons.

Orem Mayor David Young and members of the City Council participated in the grand opening of Lakanto, a division of Saraya, in northwest Orem at 1420 W. 1200 North.

Saraya’s corporate headquarters are in Osaka, Japan.

Several local and international dignitaries were in attendance including Lorie Fowlke, district director for U.S. Rep. John Curtis; Yoichi Mikami, consul-general of Japan in Denver; as well as Saraya’s company president, Yusuke Saraya.

Saraya is currently in phase one of a plan to set up Orem as its U.S. headquarters. Once the plan is complete, the local facility will provide over 125 jobs.

“We know you could have chosen to locate this beautiful facility anywhere in the state or even the country,” Young said. “We appreciate the confidence you have placed in our community to host your North American operations and promise that you will not be sorry that you picked Family City USA.”

At the end of his remarks, the mayor presented a key to the city plaque and an Orem centennial portrait to Saraya and CEO Mykhaylo Dubrovka as a token of friendship and appreciation.

“We are so excited that Orem can play a local role in Saraya’s global mission to improve health and wellness. Saraya is a highly respected company and ranks in the upper echelon of international companies for both workplace culture and manufacturing excellence,” said Pete Wolfley, Orem’s communications manager. “We are so grateful to have such a wonderful new community partner in Orem.”

“We looked all over the country for the best location, including Kentucky and California, where some of our divisions already operate,” said Adam Klimkowski, Saraya’s international general manager. “We have had a positive experience with Utah’s workforce since 2015, and we were attracted by the strength of Utah’s health and wellness industry. Utah offers a strong base of suppliers and talent for us in a domestic market that is growing fast.”

According to the company, the new 127,000-square-foot space was designed for efficiency, safety and cleanliness, with the combined capability of four lines processing up to 20,000 pounds of a wide range of granulated and powdered products an hour, with dedicated space for allergen and non-allergen products.

“This is an exciting opportunity, not just for Saraya, but the community in and around Utah County,” Dubrovka said. “We look forward to continuing to grow our workforce through local talent, as well as serving the diverse business needs of the area.”

The Saraya Group of companies has been operating globally for over 70 years, with roots in health care-related infection control, food sanitation, public hygiene, home and body care products and functional foods such as Lakanto.

Saraya USA opened seven years ago in Lindon to bring Lakanto monkfruit sweetener to the United States.

“We are glad we we’re able to stay in Orem,” said Joel Patrick, chief revenue officer.

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