DAIRY & DAIRY-BASED DRINKS
Developing natural colour solutions for the dairy industry Imagining a cheese without colour isn’t easy, but before Oterra (previously a part of Chr. Hansen) brought the first natural colour for the dairy industry to the market in Philadelphia, USA in 1876 that was the reality. They led the way for the dairy industry around the world by bringing colour from Annatto seeds to the market. A pigment that is still widely used in the dairy industry today.
I
n April 2021 the natural colour
is clear as day. “For the African market,
acquired by private equity
we see consumers want more and more
firm EQT. Undergoing a complete
natural clean products from brands they
brand transformation, they emerged
trust. They want to feel reassured about
as Oterra - meaning of the earth - and
the food they eat, particularly, for the
are re-strengthening their already
based drinks are typically perceived
make natural colours even easier
as a healthy meal or on-the-go snack,”
for manufacturers.
says Henrik Damstrup, Oterra’s EEMEA
industry with natural colours has been
marketing manager. As the world’s leading global natural
a core part of Oterra’s DNA and they
colours provider, Oterra plays an integral
have tailormade colour solutions for the
role in supporting dairy manufacturers,
full palette of the dairy industry. Remi
be it shelf-life or stability of colours. They
Mazet, application manager at Oterra
have different colour solutions to meet
explains their trailblazing ways. “Not
all needs, from natural colours to clean-
only have we been part of pioneering
label solutions with fruit and vegetable
the dairy industry, but we have
concentrates. They offer stable, vibrant
also continued to look ahead and
and cost-effective solutions, and have
create supportive solutions for
a strong portfolio of reds based on both
emerging non-dairy alternatives,” said Mazet.
carmine and carmine alternatives. While some brands still use artificial
Throughout the years, Oterra
colours, the movement towards natural
has broadened its knowledge with
can be seen in Africa. According to the
extensive large-scale studies on colour
Africa Food Colourants Market – Growth,
behaviour in all dairy applications.
April 2022 | FOOD RE VIEW
dairy industry where yoghurt and dairy-
strong position in the market to
For 146 years, supplying the dairy
32
The consumer trend towards natural
division of Chr. Hansen was
Trends, and Forecast 2022-2027 report
They have developed patented
by market intelligence firm Mordor
and award-winning colours such
Intelligence, strong growth is expected
as, Red Strawberry Fragaria, which is a
in this region due to a growing demand
unique red for yoghurt with better heat
for clean-label foods, and increasingly
stability and cost-efficiency.
savvy consumers.
