Health and nutrition is driving trends within a range of food sectors, FrieslandCampina Ingredients told FoodNavigator at FiE in Frankfurt yesterday. The company is investing in this current trend, aiming to fulfil consumer demands for products optimal to health.
Do consumers want high protein?
Consumers want health and nutrition related products, Vicky Davies, global marketing director in performance, active and medical nutrition at FrieslandCampina Ingredients, said.
Consumer desire for high protein products has "gone mainstream", she explained. Rather than being focused mainly on the sport nutrition category, protein is "incorporated into everyday foods". Proteins are even added to products perceived as unhealthy, such as desserts, as part of the "healthy indulgence" trend.
Furthermore, "consumers are becoming much more aware of the different types and levels of quality" of the proteins, Katie Verlaan, global marketing manager in performance, active and medical nutrition at FrieslandCampina Ingredients, told FoodNavigator. Consumers pay attention not just to weather or not a product contains protein, but its levels of protein, and the quality of the protein, as well.
The range of proteins within FrieslandCampina’s portfolio, which aims to respond to these consumer demands, includes the milk protein lactoferrin and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is derived from fish. The company offers an algae-based form of DHA for vegetarian and vegan products.
In terms of how these ingredients are used, the company has a ‘stronghold’ in medical nutrition, Davies told us, and interacts with "all the big players".
It also has a prominent presence within sports nutrition and active nutrition, the latter of which is more diverse than the former and includes functional foods and beverages, as well as high protein yoghurts and protein bars of varying protein levels.
How is the company investing in prebiotics?
FrieslandCampina Ingredients are also investing in prebiotics, which has also seen significant consumer interest in recent years.
According to Davies, the company is the global leader in Galactooligosaccharide, a prebiotic which is derived from lactose and can be used to positively influence the composition of the gut microbiome. The ingredient is not just important to gut health, according to Davies, but ‘gut being linked to overall holistic health’ as well.