What is driving the food and beverage industry in 2020?
Based on the constant evolution of the consumers’ aspirations for health & well-being, authentic and clean label products, the industry is facing a changing demand for new product developments, reformulations and market strategies.
In 2020 and the decade to come, ingredients, such as flavors need to focus on functionality AND taste attributes to serve the evolving needs of today’s consumers. Building a bridge between delivering an authentic taste experience and helping to maintain the sensory characteristics of consumer products is key. By that means, flavors need to provide natural taste solutions for sugar reduction, masking off-notes, salt reduction and many more. Thus, creating further opportunities for the future of food. At the same time, sustainability and transparency are major attributes that need to be obtained across the whole supply chain
Functional taste solutions lead the way
A growing number of consumers is seeking for more healthy food: less sugar or salt, added or alternative proteins as well as superfoods with high nutritional content are major drivers for purchasing decisions. At the same time, consumers are demanding tasty high quality food and seasonal or adventurous variations.
With respect to the vast growing market dynamic for alternative proteins on a global scale, not only meat alternatives will see a respective growth, but also dairy-free white products. Future opportunities will therefore be generated by innovations within the plant-based area. Supported by these market dynamics, the category of sports nutrition will further move into mainstream, opening opportunities for “wellness drinks” and further hybrid categories that address a far larger consumer group.
Thus, maintaining appealing taste characteristics is key for developing successful market products. Authentic taste profiles, such as roasted meat and other culinary profiles or creamy, milky and fresh characteristics need to be obtained. Covering or masking off-notes of various protein types equally play a major role for developing indulgent products. With sugar reduction evolving further and being evident in many product categories at the same time, the need for functional taste solutions will increase substantially over the next 5 years.
Learn more about Bell`s functional taste solutions for sugar reduction
Botanical extracts and organic flavors are taking center stage
Botanical extracts can be found in a growing number of product launches across all major segments, but will most significantly further influence product developments within the non-alcoholic beverage category. Products such as near water, flavored water or infused water are focusing on consumer groups shifting from drinks with a high sugar content to more natural and less sweet options by using a range of botanicals within their formulations. Hence, opportunities can be found in herbal varieties that comprise a more bitter taste or combinations with mint, tea leaves, mild spices or floral notes.
Changing EU-regulations effective for organic-certified products from January 1st, 2021 will also lead to an increasing focus on reformulation within a variety of food and beverage products. In order to keep the organic certification within end products, they are only allowed to contain organic-conform or organic-certified natural source flavorings (95:5) and/or organic-conform or organic-certified extracts.
At the same time, using organic-suitable or certified flavors and extracts will play a major role in new developments within categories such as non-alcoholic beverages, dairy products or bakery & snacks, addressing consumers’ desire for transparency and simplicity of ingredients and the increased focus on naturalness.
Let us help you in finding solutions for the new EU-organic regulations. Contact Us Here.
Hemp is here to stay
Especially younger consumer groups are looking for experimental, yet indulging products, with certain trends or megatrends shaping the industry and setting foundations for new and sophisticated market launches.
The current growth of hemp-based product developments across all product segments within the global F&B industry and the buzz around CBD is likely to fuel product innovations in 2020 and the years to come. Hemp is going mainstream – according to market data, the global hemp-based food market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 24% in the coming years.
The recent popularity of hemp can be mainly attributed to consumers’ growing interest in following plant-based and free-from diets. Together with the consumers’ aspirations for hemp as a superfood, its characteristic herbal and floral notes are also creating high interest and lend a signature taste profile to a variety of applications such as non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, baked goods and confectionery products and even sauces, condiments and marinades. The use of hemp extracts further underlines the better-for-you and at the same time premium appeal and creates depictional advantages. Both hemp flavors and extracts will therefore be seen in an increasing variety of product launches within the upcoming period.
Discover Bell´s range of natural hemp flavors and extracts, delivering authentic taste experiences for new and invigorating product creations.
One of the finest things about traditional cooking is the scent of something grilled upon open flames, with BBQ sauce being the staple accompaniment for this classic cooking technique. The diversity of this focus topic continues with classic flavors thus far extending it to exciting, authentic and unusual varieties that are increasingly appealing to consumers.
The new EU-Regulation (EU) 848/2018 applying for organic-certified products will lead to a change in the raw materials and flavorings allowed to be used in organic-labelled products. Following the new legislation, only natural x flavorings (95/5) or flavoring preparations are allowed to be incorporated in organic food. In order to keep the organic certification within end products, they are therefore only allowed to contain organic suitable or organic certified natural source flavorings or extracts.
With a new designed range of organic certified natural source flavors and beverage compounds, Bell enables beverage manufacturers to meet the new EU organic regulations while delivering authentic taste properties such as orange, lemon, apple, lime or cola, among others. The range further aims to support product developments based on solely organic certified raw materials, providing added value for your brand and helping you to meet consumer demands and expand your target group.