DECATUR - It didn't take long for Matt Wineinger to realize how important Decatur is to Tate & Lyle.

Since becoming president of its food and industrial ingredients Americas division just over a month ago, Wineinger has focused on continuing to move the company in the direction that was started before he joined the business. He replaced Lynn Grider, who retired after eight years as president and 30 years in the organization.

"A lot of the new technology that we think about using throughout the business gets its start right here in Decatur," Wineinger said Wednesday. "A huge chunk of our profitability comes from Decatur. It's the heartbeat of the company."

In the past, several years before Wineinger was aboard, the company began making significant capital investments to improve its position not only in Decatur but also in other locations throughout the country. It is developing new corn processing technology facilities in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Loudon, Tenn.

With the physical structure mostly in place, Wineinger can focus on running the business and moving it forward as he takes over. He joined Tate & Lyle in March after more than 20 years in the food ingredients and products industry, working for companies such as Procter & Gamble, Cargill Meat Solutions and Monsanto Dairy.

"We've made a promise with our capital investment," Wineinger said. "Our goal now is to deliver on that promise."

As other companies turn their focus to ethanol, Tate & Lyle sees its core in food products, he said. Part of the capital investment in Decatur has been to develop the ability to focus on soluble corn fiber applications, which would help put more fiber into people's diets.

"We're much more focused on things such as sweeteners and starches," he said. "Ethanol is a piece of the puzzle that allows us to optimize margins for the business, but it's not one of the key components."

The challenge that lies ahead is helping its customers keep the price of food low.

"Every day, we're coming up with new ways to work with new products and help companies keep their costs down," he said.

Decatur will continue to be a key part of whatever plans are developed for the company's future.

"We continue to look for additional places to invest capital that will have a return," Wineinger said. "There are obviously opportunities in Decatur."

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