Scoular expands Ohio soybean dehulling capacity to meet rising plant-based food demand

Scoular has announced plans to install a soybean dehuller at its Covington, Ohio, facility as demand continues to grow for dehulled soybeans used in plant-based foods and beverages.

• Scoular announced it would install a soybean dehuller at its Covington, Ohio, facility, with operations expected to begin by mid-2027.
• The expansion followed growing demand from food and beverage manufacturers for dehulled soybeans used in products including soymilk.
• The investment also created additional opportunities for producers supplying identity-preserved, non-GMO and organic soybeans to the facility.

The dehuller is expected to be operational by mid-2027 and will become Scoular's second soybean dehulling facility, following the addition of similar capabilities at its Andres, Illinois, site in 2023. The company reported that demand for dehulled soybeans from that facility has continued to increase.

Scoular said the investment would help support the expansion of long-standing food and beverage customers while strengthening opportunities for growers supplying identity-preserved, non-GMO and organic soybeans to the Covington operation.

The Ohio facility has established itself as a supplier of food-grade soybeans to domestic and international markets. According to the company, its existing grain cleaning and color-sorting infrastructure made the site well suited for the addition of dehulling equipment.

Dehulled soybeans are widely used in plant-based food and beverage manufacturing, including soymilk production. Removing the hull increases protein concentration and allows the beans to absorb water more quickly during processing, characteristics that manufacturers often seek for food applications.

Matt O'Hern, General Manager at Scoular, said the company was responding to sustained customer demand. "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."

Scoular also pointed to continued growth in the global plant-based beverage market, citing projections of nearly 14% annual growth through 2032 as a driver for increasing demand for dehulled soybeans.

Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, Scoular is an employee-owned agribusiness with annual revenues of US$7.3 billion. The company operates more than 100 offices and facilities worldwide, buying, selling, storing, handling and processing grains and ingredients for customers across the food, beverage, animal nutrition and biofuels sectors.

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