INDUSTRY TALK
In recent years, consumers have become more skeptical, and want to know and understand more about what is in the products they buy. Transparent and easy to understand labels allow consumers to make ethical and healthier choices, and are becoming more popular among consumers. Food Review recently spoke to Thomas Schmidt, marketing director at Beneo about these and other trends that beverage manufacturers should consider for the future.
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‘always’ or ‘often’ looking at nutritional
Consumers are adopting a long-term
still mega-trends. However, there is also
information i, both the label and the
holistic approach to their health and
an increasing focus on mental health and
story it tells are vital for commercial
are increasingly looking to beverages to
how to successfully promote this benefit in
success. Storytelling is a key trend for the
support their self-health strategies. With
food and drink products. We are seeing this
upcoming years. While communicating
65% of worldwide consumers saying that
demonstrated for example in the growing
that the product contains no ‘nasties’, the
mental well-being is the definition of ‘being
use of our low glycaemic carbohydrate,
label also needs to show the provenance
healthy’ to themii, there is an opportunity for
Palatinose in the e-sports community. Due to
of the ingredients used and whether
beverage innovation and developing drinks
its unique glucose-fructose binding, the full
they are natural or organic to have real
that promote improved focus, benefit the
carbohydrate energy is released more steadily
consumer appeal.
microbiome and promote positive nutrition.
than by traditional carbohydrates, allowing
We are seeing more of our prebiotic fibres
the person consuming it to stay focused for
being added to new products such as coffee,
longer. We are also seeing a much wider range
and low glycaemic carbohydrates such
of digestive wellness and sugar-reduced new
as Palatinose added to drinks to deliver
drink products containing Beneo’s prebiotic
sustained energy. Holistic health has opened
chicory root fibres brought to market. They
the door to some exciting new beverage
not only add fibre and come with approved EU
products and in my opinion, there are many
digestive health claims, but they also reduce
more to come.
sugar on the ingredients label.
What role does storytelling play in attracting consumers to beverages?
With 43% of European consumers
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October 2021 | FOOD RE VIEW
What are the latest opportunities in functional beverages and which ingredients are being utilised?
What are the key trends to look out for in the next years?
Digestive health and sugar reduction are
