Vegetables first
At Food Ingredients Europe, it seemed that a stand wasn’t complete without a selection of vegetables to adorn it. Lycored had tomato plants, and Chr Hansen (long known on these pages as a supplier of DVI cultures for cheese) had decorated its stand with black carrots and other root vegetables. GNT, Döhler, SVZ and others such as Sensient had their vegetable-based wares on show, and it was mainly vegetables for colouring, or for sneaking into foods for an added hit of natural nutrition. It is interesting to note the sea change, from merely employing sweeter fruits for dairy, to using vegetables to boost colours and flavours. It was actually quite fascinating, and as 90% of all dairy colourants and flavours are now naturally based in Europe, and this trend is set to continue.
Another top trend is finding consumer types and selling to them. Interestingly, ingredients manufacturers such as Arla Food Ingredients and Palsgaard are looking at the types of people who buy certain products, and then formulating recipes to help manufacturers to offer the right products for these sectors. As Katrien Lambeens of Beneo points out, “While everyone is watching their weight, nobody wants to give up on taste, and if it doesn’t taste right, they won’t buy it twice.” Very true. Whey proteins and other ingredients not only have to provide protein, the taste has to be right.
Suppliers know that the fast moving consumer goods companies need all the help they can get to move to market quickly and efficiently. The work ingredients firms do in the background is beneficial to all in the chain, and Food Ingredients Europe showcased that cooperation.
