From the all-natural and good for you to authentic regional flavours, native Australian ingredients, and the dietary specific, these companies and ingredients trends are improving the health of, colouring, flavouring and otherwise spicing up the food and food-processing industries as well as Foodpro 2017. Here's a taste.
Newly Weds Foods' secret recipe
Newly Wed Foods’ stand was noticeably booming, with lots of food samplings on offer. There was a clear emphasis on the company’s coatings. This is not surprising, considering that, according to Laurie Redfern, national sales and marketing manager of Newly Weds Foods, coatings and crumbs make up 45 per cent of the company’s volume. Southern Dill Pickle Chicken Bites and Chicken Bites with Ancient Grain & Teff were among the day’s highlights.
Likewise, another 45 per cent of the company’s volume is in functional meat ingredients, such as sausage and burger premixes, brines, cures, marinades, emulsifiers, glazes and sauces in both dry and liquid form. Many of these, too, were available for tasting.
Some other happening trends, says Redfern? “Panko is going gangbusters and has done for the last few years.” One to still keep an eye on. Also, watch for more ancient grains, more gluten-free options, and more vegetarian products, such as vegetarian bratwurst.
Further, people are now on the hunt for more authentic, nuanced flavours. Hence, the likes of the dill pickle flavouring in the Southern-style chicken bites or the zesty Spanish Chorizo Sprinkle rather than just a generic Spanish sprinkle.
IMCD reinvents egg
At IMCD Australia, the food division focuses on supplying functional food ingredients to the Aussie market. This year, function again meets trend, with sugar-reduced, allergen-free, and egg-reduced products front and centre at IMCD’s stand.
Given that egg prices are so volatile, this egg-reduction trend comes as no surprise, and IMCD answers this need with a product featuring citrus fibre, cellulose, and dextrin. Among this year’s other hero products? A liquid fibre for no-added-sugar cereal bars.
Sphere Foods adds colour
When American-based colourant company Sphere Foods concentrated and dried its natural colour about six years ago, “That opened up the world for us,” says Jerry Judkins-Smith, principal at the company, noting the global push towards natural, low calorie, and vegetarian foods.
Sphere’s natural red has no flavour, no odour and a five-year shelf life. It provides more depth of colour, so a little goes a long way. Derived from the hybrid, all-natural Rubired grape, the natural red finds use in such applications as bringing uniform colour to fruit and helping wineries with discolouration (browning).
Largely a beverage-driven business (red wine and juice), Sphere and its colourings are now making their way into foods as well.
Stay tuned for more ingredients news in our Foodpro special edition coming soon.
