PETpla.net Insider 04 / 2016

BEVERAGE INGREDIENTS 11 PET planet insider Vol. 17 No. 04/16 www.petpla.net sugar content without compromising on taste. A taste that is too different can cancel out the major advantages of the sugar reduction. Depending on the product, Döhler offers tailor-made and diverse sweetening concepts that allow sugar and calories to be reduced without sacrificing taste. This is where, in addition to differ- ent sweeteners, natural flavours that bolster the perception of sweetness come into play. Along with stevia, malt extracts for natural sweetening are being increasingly used. However, the topic of health is no longer just a question of sugar and fat reduction. The sudden increase seen in lactose-free or even gluten- free products is practically a life- style trend – especially the latter since only a tiny number of consum- ers actually need to consistently avoid gluten for health reasons. The industry is also reacting here with corresponding products. Doehler provides the beverage industry with application-specific, gluten-free malt extracts that can be used as a spe- cific taste component and as natural ingredients for a variety of products for natural colouring and sweetening. A technology that allows the produc- tion of gluten-free beer has also been developed. Products that carry the claims “vegetarian”, “vegan” or “lactose- free” are also experiencing increasing growth, for one thing soy and rice bev- erages. Using plant-based proteins, Doehler can provide vegan products with added value. A carefully-crafted mixture of plant-based proteins, for example, can be used to create prod- ucts with outstanding sensory proper- ties and adapted individually to fit any recipe. Trend #3: Individualisation Consumers used to be divided into clear target groups, but today they are significantly more demand- ing. They are looking for products that meet their individual expecta- tions perfectly. Everyone wants to be unique and stand out – and this is expressed above all in their consumer behaviour. People increasingly expect the industry to recognise them as individuals. The range of personalised and customisable products is growing accordingly. In this context, liquid food and beverage enhancers are becoming increasingly popular. The idea behind the product is just as simple as it is ingenious: consumers can carry their favourite flavour wherever they go, in the form of a highly-concentrated syrup contained in a small ‘squeezy’ PET bottle in their trouser pocket or bag. This allows them to create their own personalised beverage in an instant – at home, at work or on the go. All in all, the trend towards indi- vidualisation indicates increasing frag- mentation of the markets and more direct efforts to appeal to individual consumers or rather their needs. Trend #4: Vegetables To start with, apple and orange remain the most popular flavours for new non-alcoholic beverage products. Nevertheless, there is one trend that can be seen in all categories: vegeta- ble as a taste or ingredient in the form of natural flavours, juices or purees is becoming increasingly popular in beverages – for example as fruit and vegetable snack drinks, isotonic sports drinks with beetroot or aqua plus bev- erages with a cucumber taste. Veg- etables are often not used as a single flavour or the dominant taste note, but instead are ideally suited to rounding off fruity notes and providing that spe- cial something. At the same time, they give products a healthy, natural image. With its comprehensive portfolio of fruit & vegetable ingredients, Döhler con- tinuously develops concepts that cater to this trend and offers tailored sol- utions for every product category. Trend #5: Multi-sensory experience Taste is not everything. What is the best colour for an energy drink? Why does green taste completely dif- ferent in Asia? What odour has fresh- ness? According to Döhler, a product must be able to impress with a coordi- nated multi-sensory experience. They need to offer taste, texture, colour, mouthfeel, melting behaviour, bite and even sound, not just in harmony, but with maximum indulgence. www.doehler.com