Raising agent manufacturer and supplier Kudos Blends has invested £750,000 to expand its milling and blending facility.

The move will enable the firm to produce its zero-sodium potassium bicarbonate a direct replacement for sodium bicarbonate, which boasts the ability to reduce sodium content by 50%.Dinnie Jordan, director, told British Baker. "In a typical cake recipe, there would be around 400ml of sodium per 100g, but with this product, it could be reduced to around 180ml."

Following rising demand for salt and sodium reduction products from the UK baking industry, as well the US and Asia, Jordan said the new facility would also allow the firm to move into international markets. Its Kudos Potassium Biocarbonate was previously produced under contract manufacture, but its move in-house has also enabled the product to be patented. "Sodium bicarbonate is used an ingredient throughout the world. But we have a zero sodium alternative, which nobody else is producing as a bakery grade," said Jordan. "We have just appointed distributors in New Zealand and Canada, and are on the verge of doing so in North America and Australia."

She said the firm, based in Cleobury Mortimer, Worcester-shire, had definitely benefited from the drives to cut salt in the baking industry, seeing "absolutely tremendous growth rates".