Listen to this articleThe basics:
- First US facility dedicated entirely to bakery glaze
- Advanced automation and digital workflows enhance efficiency
- Produces Sunset Glaze — a plant-based, allergen-free egg wash alternative
- Facility brings high-tech food manufacturing, new jobs to Camden County
Puratos is celebrating the launch of the first plant in the country dedicated entirely to making bakery glaze.
The company unveiled the facility located at the its U.S. headquarters in Pennsauken Oct. 27. The site includes advanced automation and digital workflows to help achieve maximum efficiency. In an effort to accelerate innovation and product development, it also has a dedicated pilot line for co-creation with customers, according to the Belgium-based bakery and sweets goods ingredients company.
Beyond its high-tech capabilities, this facility strengthens Puratos’ position as the only glaze supplier offering a reliable, resilient domestic supply of bakery glaze. It joins Purato’s backed by a global network of glaze sites, the company said.
Reducing risk
Puratos also described it as a “major win for Camden County.” The facility creates new jobs as well as brings high-tech food manufacturing to the region.
“Glaze is a powerful driver of category growth, especially in today’s competitive bakery landscape,” said Andrew Brimacombe, president of Puratos U.S. and incoming president of Puratos North America. “By producing locally, we’re helping our customers respond faster to market demands, reduce supply chain risk, and unlock premiumization opportunities.”
According to the company, the facility’s line will run packaging formats to support a range of needs – from bag-in-box options to large-scale industrial packaging – for its signature product. Sunset Glaze is a plant-based and allergen-free egg wash alternative known for its shine, color and easy cleaning.
By eliminating the need for eggs, Sunset Glaze supports manufacturers in their transition to cage-free operations, helping them meet evolving consumer expectations and corporate sustainability goals. It also reduces food safety risks and cuts CO₂ emissions by over 50% compared to traditional egg-based glazes, Puratos said.
‘The time to glaze is now’
“Sunset Glaze isn’t just a product — it’s a catalyst for growth. For any bakery looking to stay competitive, the time to glaze is now — and the partner to do it with is Puratos,” Brimacombe said.
A spokesperson for Puratos declined to say how much was invested to build the new 10,000-square-foot facility.
Founded in 1919, Puratos provides innovative ingredients to the bakery, patisserie and chocolate sectors. It primarily serves large industrial bakers and re-tailers, along with foodservice chains, distributors and artisan customers.
Puratos opened its first U.S. subsidiary in Boston in 1979. It began production in Pennsauken in 1983. After moving to Cherry Hill, the company returned to Pennsauken in 2018 to establish a new U.S. headquarters and main research facility as part of a bid to expand its presence here.
During an Oct. 27 reveal of the bakery glaze facility, the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony featured a giant glazed challah bread. There were also guided tours of the glaze facility, live demonstrations of advanced bakery automation, product tastings and interactive sessions showcasing the innovation process, Puratos said.
Festivities included a tour of an industrial pilot bakery Puratos opened earlier this year at its headquarters to support rapid prototyping and product development for commercial bakers.
Attendees included U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross, D-1st District; American Bakers Association president Eric Dell; Pennsauken committeeman Patrick Olivo; Assemblyman William Moen Jr., D-5th District; customers and Puratos executives.
