Bonumose will partner with Hershey to research and develop reduced or zero sugar chocolate products.
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The company will invest $27.7 million to expand in Albemarle County.
Bonumose will move into 36,000 square feet of the former State Farm building to expand production capabilities and relocate its existing research and development lab from North Fork a University of Virginia Discovery Park.
Virginia successfully competed with Florida, Idaho, and North Dakota for the project, which will create 64 new jobs.
Bonumose developed and patented the methods for continuous production of high purity rare sugars, such as tagatose and allulose. These sugars come from plant based feedstock, specifically starch. Earlier this year, The Hershey Company announced it would grow its confections offerings using Bonumose’s products.
Bonumose, Inc. was founded in 2016 in Charlottesville. It is supported by investors and collaborators across the globe. Its cost effective process makes the use of rare sugars possible.
Bonumose uses the starch byproduct left over from its supply chain partners’ food production to develop the sugar. The company is also developing enzyme solutions for dietary supplements, crop protection, animal nutrition, and other industries.
Governor Northam also approved a performance based grant of $300,000 from the Virginia Investment Performance Grant. The performance grant is an incentive for existing Virginia companies to continue capital investment.
Bonumose is eligible to receive benefits from the Port of Virginia Economic and Infrastructure Development Zone Grant Program. Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program. ■
A very active and complex mid-May weather pattern is set to produce numerous areas of severe weather, heavy rain, high winds, and anomalous temperatures through this weekend.