Crave energy drinks are vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, and contain no artificial flavors or sweeteners. Each beverage contains only 10 kcal. Crave comes in 250ml cans in three flavors–Passionfruit and Vanilla, Lime and Mint, and Pineapple and Coconut.

Lime & Mint

Crave Lime & Mint starts with lime and mint’s powerful aroma, with the lime overtaking the mint in an overall invigorating scent. We expected this combination of flavors to be refreshing, but it was a bit more sweet. The bubbles’ effervescence adds dimension for an exciting drinking experience, but the aftertaste was a bit too sweet for our tastes. Crave Lime and Mint finishes with a strong hint of mint, making it more distinctive than the other two flavors.

Pineapple & Coconut

Crave Pineapple & Coconut has a sweet and tempting aroma reminiscent of pineapple candy. We expected a bit more pineapple taste, but the coconut flavor overpowered the more tart and fruity pineapple in the blend. You experience the sweetness that comes from the BCAAs with a hint of coconut in the aftertaste. We feel like this flavor could have been amped up a bit to better mask the sweetness of the BCAAs.

Passionfruit & Vanilla

Crave Passionfruit and Vanilla has a delightful aroma that reminds us of Werther’s Original candy. This beverage was by far the sweetest of the three flavors, with the natural sweetness of the BCAAs shining through. Although enjoyable to sip, we wouldn’t recommend Crave Passionfruit and Vanilla to anyone who doesn’t enjoy sweet drinks.

Summary: Crave drinks bring some interesting and exciting flavor combinations to the world of energy drinks. The ingredients deliver a powerful punch of healthful natural energy. These drinks are a bit sweet and may be best served over ice with a splash of water or as a mixer.

 For more information visit Crave’s website. 

In keeping with its name, Fi Europe CONNECT aimed to make networking and lead generation as easy as possible for attendees, thanks to an AI-based matchmaking system. More than 15,400 connections, 6,300 conversations and over 8,800 meetings prove that the virtual platform fulfilled that promise. Like its big sister Fi Europe co-located with Hi Europe, Fi Europe CONNECT had a truly international feel, with 131 countries present at the virtual exhibition.

Innovative exhibitors and an expert audience

In addition to key players such as Bio Springer, Roquette and EXBERRY® by GNT, who showcased their offerings, upcoming startup companies were also able to prove their visionary credentials in the Startup Innovation Challenge. Michroma and Enzymit, for example, both named winners in this year’s challenge, are active in the field of fermented and lab-grown ingredients.

Technologies and ingredients relating to clean label, sustainability and plant-based alternatives also dominated the exhibitor profiles. FUMI Ingredients presented an egg-free egg white, while Sufresca, also a winner of the Startup Innovation Challenge, offers edible coatings for fruit and vegetables. What’s more, functional ingredients for intestinal health, personalized nutrition and immunity played a major role – a result of the pandemic, as revealed by experts from Innova Market Insights, Mintel, FMCG Gurus, and New Nutrition Business in panel discussions and presentations.

The quality of the attendees was impressive too: Around one third of the visitors worked in R&D and product development, 64 per cent had budget authority and were responsible for purchasing in their company, and approximately 30 per cent were in senior management (C-level).

Brand Director Julien Bonvallet says: “The year 2020 was a challenge, especially for the exhibition and event industry. Although we have been well-positioned digitally, the face-to-face meetings remain at the heart of our portfolio. My team and I worked tirelessly to make Fi Europe CONNECT an international and vibrant platform. That’s why it’s great to know that this virtual show and our agenda of expert talks, panel discussions and live sessions were so well received. Virtual events are proving to be a strong channel to reach new and wider audiences, as well as an excellent vehicle for brand awareness and thought leadership.”

2021: Face-to-face exhibition and virtual event series

Informa Markets has already announced that Fi Europe co-located with Hi Europe will return to Frankfurt next year from November 30 to December 2. In addition to the event in November, the organizers will present the Fi Global CONNECT series, which consists of 3 virtual events.

Fi Global CONNECT will start with “Regions in the Spotlight” in April 2021, followed by “Health Ingredients in the Spotlight” in June and “Plant-Based Ingredients in the Spotlight” in September. Informa Markets expects the new virtual formats to link around 350 suppliers with more than 15,000 potential customers.

With a year-round calendar of networking events, a rich content agenda and marketing services, the series will enable attendees and exhibitors to connect through AI-driven matchmaking, discover innovations and do business throughout the year across a variety of markets.

Source: Fi Global

Flavors That Tingle

Burning, cooling, or otherwise tingling their way across our tongues, drinks with flavors that stimulate unique sensory experiences are set to become more prominent in the coming year.

“We’ve had a considerable uptick in client requests for flavors that deliver varying degrees and styles of heat, smoke, and spice,” says Tom Gibson, Flavorman’s Chief Flavorist. “But we’ve also seen an increase in requests for flavors with that fresh, cooling rush you’d get from chewing a stick of mint gum.”

Flavors like Ancho chile, habanero, and Indian peppercorn are expected to make their way into everything from Ready-to-Drink (RTD) cocktails to tea and lemonade. Meanwhile, menthol-heavy pairings— think peppermint-mocha cream and lemon-coconut eucalyptus— will contribute a cooling element to seltzers, premium coffee, juice drinks, and more.

Flavors That Comfort

The need for comfort has taken on a whole new meaning within the current social and political climate, but flavors continue to provide a soothing constant. Staples like grapefruit, lemon, and lime will continue to be popular; but there is an opportunity to elevate these familiar profiles by grounding them in specific locations of interest.

“Tracing flavors to a specific region creates a transportive experience that helps differentiate an otherwise standard flavor,” says Kristen Wemer, Flavorman’s Director of Beverage Development. “As the market continues to saturate with the usual essentials, consumers can expect more diversity and premiumization through varietals of familiar flavors.”

Delivering on consumer cravings for nostalgia and indulgence, 2021 will also see the return of classic favorites but in unexpected, more sophisticated forms.

“When you think about childhood flavors re-imagined for premium applications, you get something like a smokey vanilla cold brew, bubble gum seltzer, or a fruit punch gin cocktail,” says Wemer. “We’re experiencing a renaissance of these nostalgic flavors— peanut butter, orange creamsicle, grape cotton candy— in concepts like hard coffee, energy drinks, and craft soda.”

Flavors That Function

In 2020, Flavorman introduced the concept of “functional plus”— those beverages that provide consumers with a multitude of health and wellness benefits. As the world grapples with a global pandemic, consumers have found ways to take their health into their own hands— and stomachs.

Beverages that offer immunity, cognitive, and mood-boosting benefits will be especially significant. Expect fragrant flavors like hibiscus, elderflower, and orange blossom to be combined with other berries, botanical, and citrus elements to emphasize functional ingredient blends in naturally positioned teas, enhanced waters, flavored kombucha, and more.

Of course, if 2020 has taught us anything it’s that no one has a crystal ball; but with almost 30 years in the beverage business and nearly 70,000 formulations under our belt, we also know that experience still counts for something.

Source: Flavorman

Made with waxy maize which is manufactured in Europe, NOVATION® 9460 organic instant functional native starch answers today’s consumer demand for more sustainable products. It can be used across a range of applications, including bakery fillings, quiche and other savoury fillings, cakes, ready meals, mayonnaise, salad dressings, sauces, and soft cheese desserts.

NOVATION® 9460 organic instant functional native starch can help to solve many of the processing and stability challenges, faced by manufacturers, across numerous applications. It provides instant viscosity, enabling optimum control of rheological behaviour in cake batters, sauces or other semi-liquids. It can also be used in sweet bakery applications, such as cream and fruit-based fillings or savoury applications to produce a high quality, premium appearance and texture. Unlike instant organic starches on the market, NOVATION® 9460 organic instant functional native starch is stable in acidic and shear environments, such as mayonnaise applications. As a result, gelling or water syneresis over a product’s shelf-life is avoided, guaranteeing a smooth consumer-preferred texture.

Esra Akmanli, Business Development Manager, said: “Now worth over €40billion in Europe, the organic market has doubled in size over the last 10 years[1], with one in seven product launches now organic[2].  With personal health and sustainability are high on their agenda, consumers associate organic labels with stricter testing and greater transparency.

“But, creating products that have the quality and sensory experience that consumers love, while complying with the many regulations required for organic certification, can be a challenge. Ingredion has experience and expertise in functional organic texturisers, clean label and organic formulation, as well as deep consumer insights that can help our customers capitalise on opportunities in organic food and drink. NOVATION® 9460 organic instant functional native starch guarantees process tolerance and shelf-life stability, enabling manufacturers to go organic without compromising on quality.”

As detailed in Ingredion’s ‘Get Ready for Organic Changes’ guide, under the new organic regulation, due to come into force on the 1st January 2022, processed foods can still be labelled as organic, provided that 95% of the agricultural ingredients are of organic origin/produced organically. The remaining ingredients will need to be on approved lists of process aids, food additives, and non-organic agricultural ingredients. However, from 31st December 2022, non-organic starch from rice and waxy maize will be removed from use in organic foods, following this date only organic starches are permitted.

By working in collaboration with Ingredion’s team of application specialists, food and beverage manufacturers will learn how to reformulate and deliver consumer-loved and compliant organic products.

Source: Ingredion

“Acquiring 100% ownership in Verdient Foods enables Ingredion to accelerate net sales growth, further expand our manufacturing capability and co-create with our customers to serve the increasing consumer demand for plant-based foods,” said Jim Zallie, Ingredion’s president and chief executive officer. “Over the last two years, we have strategically invested over $200 million to build a leadership position in consumer-preferred plant-based proteins, which is central to Ingredion’s strategy and accelerating our Driving Growth Roadmap. We are well positioned to continue capitalizing on and benefiting from the megatrends driving the changes in the global food and beverage industry. We look forward to building on the foundation set by James and Suzy Amis Cameron, who have been pioneers in driving transformational change in the food industry and creating a shared sustainable future for all.”

Jim Cameron stated: “Ingredion is truly committed to breakthrough, innovative and sustainable plant-based solutions, and to revolutionizing food systems for the health of the planet. Our collective efforts and shared vision are about igniting change and delivering benefits to consumers around the world.”

As a result of the acquisition and once construction is complete on an adjacent facility, the Company will operate two facilities that can produce a wide range of high-quality, sustainable, specialty pulse-based concentrates and flours from peas, lentils and faba beans. Both facilities are located in Vanscoy, Saskatchewan, in the heart of Canada’s pulse-crop production area and serve as a prime location for the manufacturing and distribution of pulse-based ingredients to global markets.

ADVANCEMENTS OF PLANT-BASED PROTEIN SPECIALTY GROWTH PLATFORM

The acquisition of 100% of Verdient Foods Inc. is the latest in a series of actions and investments that the Company has taken to expand and advance its plant-based proteins specialty growth platform. It also recently announced two new senior executive appointments.

Recent Senior Executive Appointments

– On Oct. 1, 2020, Jeremy Xu, senior vice president and chief innovation officer, joined the Company from Royal DSM and is responsible for research and development and the technology strategy to advance the specialty growth platforms, as well as overseeing the Ingredion Idea Labs® innovation centers.

– On Aug. 31, 2020, Beth A.C. Tormey, vice president of plant-based proteins, joined the Company from

Lonza, where she last led the consumer health and nutrition business. At Ingredion, Tormey is responsible for driving the global execution and delivery of business volume, revenue and profitability targets for the plant-based proteins platform.

Timeline of Plant-based Protein Investments

2020

– Acquisition of 100% ownership of Verdient Foods Inc. further accelerating growth in plant-based proteins

– Investment in a Process Innovation Center in Bridgewater, NJ, enabling customers to test and develop formulations, ideas and solutions for plant-based meat alternatives

– Exclusive commercial agreement with Northern Quinoa Production Corporation (NorQuin) to globally distribute and market quinoa flours

2019

– Additional investments related to Verdient Foods Inc. to expand portfolio of plant-based proteins

– Investment in Clara Foods, a San Francisco-based biotech startup, to become exclusive, global go-to-market partner for certain developing animal-free proteins

– Investment in a dedicated innovation lab in Englewood, CO, focused on plant-based meat alternatives where food scientists and product developers apply formulation expertise to help customers accelerate product launches and improve existing recipes

2018

– Establish joint venture agreement with Verdient Foods Inc. to produce pulse-based protein concentrates and flours from peas for consumer food and animal nutrition applications

– Purchase facility in South Sioux City, NE, initiating significant capital investments to transform and accelerate its production of plant-based proteins

Source: Ingredion

Shuangta is the chairman company of the Chinese vermicelli industry association. The traditional hand made vermicelli craft is applied by the company to the first batch non-physical cultural legency.

Shuangta Foods said that the company’s current production capacity of pea protein is 60,000 to 70,000 tons, and the pea deep processing project will be put into operation next year, which can add 15,000 tons of high-end protein production capacity and expand production at a rate of 20% every year.

It is understood that Shuangta Foods will upgrade part of the low-end pea production capacity to high-end pea protein production capacity based on the pea protein market in the future. High-end pea are mainly used in solid protein powder, energy bars, breakfast cereals, baked goods, plant meat and other fields. Low-end pea protein is mainly used in high-end pet food, high-performance fish feed and other fields. Among them, Shuangta Foods listed plant meat as the company’s key development direction.

Speaking of plant meat planning, Shuangta Foods stated that the company has hired a brand marketing planning team to carry out the overall layout of the plant protein meat marketing strategy; two independent teams have been set up to make full use of existing supermarkets, restaurants, e-commerce, etc. Channel resource management and operation of plant meat business. Two investor survey announcements issued by Shuangta Foods show that the demand for pea protein from downstream customers such as plant meat will increase significantly.

It is understood that in the first half of this year, Shuangta Foods takes diversified development as the core, by extending the industrial chain, vigorously upgrading the industry and product levels, vigorously promoting the development of circular economy, low-carbon economy and green economy, and strive to create high-tech, High value-added, high-efficiency enterprise.

Source: Yantai Shuangta Foods Co., Ltd.

Eybna was founded in Israel and has established itself as a leader in innovation and design of unique custom terpene formulations, all from natural sources. Aseppak was founded in California and has established a new R&D center in Colorado.

Aseppak is committed to bringing some of the leading international talents to its fresh Denver Tech Center (DTC) facility. Eybna has joined this collective of innovation-oriented companies that will continue to perform joint research and development projects for the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry.

The CPG world is in constant need to understand what the consumer is looking for. By establishing this partnership Aseppak and Eybna will be able to leverage clinical and market data to support every new formulation.

The collective’s new portfolio is the result of interdisciplinary research involving 2 international teams. It includes CBD and terpene blends, as well as natural molecules designed for consumers looking for functionality and natural ingredients.

Eybna’s recent finding on its NT-VRL formulation will be also integrated in this mutual portfolio, and the companies are now progressing on the development of functional beverages.

 The formulas include:

• Workout formulation
• AM formulation
• PM formulation
• Revive formulation
• Hangover formulation
• Restore formulation
• Immune formulation

The partnership between Eybna and Aseppak is a game-changer for the beverage industry. Market data shows a consistent growth for wellness beverages in the US, defined as those that the consumer conceives as “a better choice health-wise”.

The data also shows an important increment in the consumption of natural ingredients with functional benefits such as turmeric, horehound, echinacea and CBD. CBD drinks alone are growing at a great rhythm and are expected to grow at an exceptional pace in the next few years.

The secret to the next generation of wellness beverages lies in achieving the best balance between nature and science. Keeping it natural, while enhancing the nutritional and functional effects generated by the combinations of these ingredients with the highest quality processing and in the most sustainable style of packaging.

The collective expects to launch a new set of functional formulas by Q1-Q2 2021. The companies will continue to collaborate and service those brands who are looking to give these consumers thirsty for the new, the good and the safe. The Denver Tech Center facility is constantly bringing together brands, technology and science in its specially designed innovation workspace.

Source: Aseppak

Rising health consciousness among consumers owing to busy, stressful, and hectic lifestyles is fueling the demand for nutritious and healthy plant-derived drinks, such as aloe vera-based drinks. Moreover, shifting consumer predilection for healthy plant-derived drinks rather than high calorie and sugary carbonated drinks are offering lucrative growth opportunities for the market. These consumer trends are anticipated to boost demand in the global market. In addition, the product has excellent medicinal properties, which help to improve liver functioning, and is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, like vitamins B, C, E, and folic acid.

Asia Pacific was the largest regional market, accounting for a share of more than 30.0% in 2019. Aloe-based juice or drink is a traditional drink, which is widely consumed in various countries, such as India, China, South Korea, and Japan, owing to its excellent medicinal properties. With the increasing popularity of healthy plant-based beverages among the young generation and working-class population, the demand for aloe vera drinks is anticipated to grow in the region over the forecast period.

Source: Grand View Research, Inc.

Waterdrop Microdrinks come in various flavors, including Relax, Boost, Defence, Focus, Glow, Youth, Clean, Zen, Vibe, Nero, and Love. They are sold in 12-packs, with each serving of one cube ready to be dissolved in 400-600 ml of water. The ingredients include natural fruit and plant extracts, with various vitamins and minerals.

Youth Microdrink

We sampled the Youth Microdrink product, which comes in a compact white box with bright yellow and orange illustrations of the ingredients and flavors inside. Youth Waterdrop Microdrink contains Ginseng and Dandelion extract that is balanced with peach and ginger. Each serving contains Vitamin C, Niacin, Biotin, only 4 Kcal, and no sugar.

Upon adding the cube to the water, we noticed a unique and robust aroma with a hint of ginger and citrus. The first sip is sweet, followed by a hit of sourness. It reminded us a bit of the Vitamin C tablets sold over the counter at the pharmacy. Although this flavor wasn’t the most appealing to us, we are intrigued by the concept and excited to try the other flavors.

In addition to the Microdrinks, Waterdrop sells a variety of stylish bottles, sets, and accessories, all designed to make drinking water more fun and trendy.

Summary: We love the innovation and marketing behind Waterdrop. The company has found a way to rejuvenate and reignite excitement around water while also introducing an eco-friendly packaging alternative. The convenience, simple ingredients, and beautiful, smart packaging make Waterdrop an appealing addition to anyone’s daily routine. The Youth flavor was a little heavy on Vitamin C for our tastes, but it is just one of many Waterdrop flavors to try.

For more information visit Waterdrop’s website.

The company will now harvest record volumes of tomato annually for its color and health ingredient portfolio following a three-year multi-million-dollar investment in new lines, equipment and process and supply optimization strategies.

Lycored’s color formulation capabilities will be a central part of the expansion driven by its new formulation facility in Branchburg, New Jersey. The new plant will increase the company’s current color formulation capacity, reducing carbon footprint, and support expansion and supply into additional markets in Asia and the Middle East.

Rony Patishi-Chilim, CEO at Lycored said: “The expansion of our lycopene production follows a period of strategic equipment investments and improvements in tomato usage during key harvest periods.

“These changes ensure that we have the expertise and the capacity to meet the needs of our customers across the food, beverage and health ingredient industries looking for natural color, active health ingredients and taste-enhancing solutions.”

Lycored also plans further expansion to its seasonal capacity through working with a third party in the Southern hemisphere to provide higher product availability at different times of the year.

Rony added: “The demand for natural color ingredients is higher than ever and continues to grow as clean label, traceable, vertically integrated pigments that are plant-based grow in popularity, alongside the plant-based movement towards a more sustainable future.

“As manufactures and developers look to capitalize on this trend, we are ready with our portfolio to support their projects. Our new Branchburg facility will also be the location for an application laboratory to support color application and proof stability initiatives.”

Lycored’s growing capacity will harvest opportunities in color applications across a multitude of buoyant and emerging food segments including vegan products and functional beverages.

Source: Lycored