Ringier Trade Media Ltd interviews Fredrik Hjelmqvist, Senior Vice President, Beverages & More, dsm-firmenich Ingredient Solutions ---
“The first wealth is health,” goes the timeless quote that has never been more important to us emerging from a pandemic. According to recent studies, priorities are shifting – for a growing number of consumers, an active lifestyle coupled with a healthy diet is the order of the day.
Whether one is motivated to be in good shape, or is doing it for the environment, mindful eating has become a top priority. In fact, the global demand for health and wellness foods (i.e. whole foods, clean label snacks) is expected to increase exponentially at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.80% between the years 2023 and 2030 with a predicted value of USD 1805.8 million by 2030.1
For eco-conscious consumers, another important part of eating right is connected to knowing what’s in their food, where it comes from, and how it is processed. The food industry has been addressing these concerns for a while now, with sustainability becoming a core value among major companies across supply chains.
Now more than ever, the production of sustainable food (environmentally friendly food produced in a way that protects the environment, and its natural resources, and consumes less energy2) is the target of many multinational organisations.
At FIC 2024, the commitment to good health and sustainability was at the forefront for many companies familiar with the Chinese market's needs. One such company is dsm-firmenich, which showcased its ‘Taste, Texture & Health’ sustainable ingredient solutions, as they partner with the food and beverage industry to strike the perfect balance between the palate and the planet.
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An in-depth look at taste, texture, and health
Under the theme, "Healthier. More
delicious. Better for people and planet", dsm-firmenich presented their
concepts and solutions at their unique booth for FIC 2024. It was conveniently
divided into different stations: Dairy & Alternatives, BBCI Savory &
Alternatives, Beverages & More (B&M), and Special Purpose Solutions
(dysphagia solutions).
The company’s business unit Taste, Texture &
Health (TTH) also organised two parallel seminars to explain the advantages of
their products. During the first seminar entitled "dsm-firmenich Empowers Healthy Food and Beverages" local experts shared nutrition fortification
solutions for staple foods, instant noodles, sports drinks, and other
innovative applications.
In the second seminar, “dsm-firmenich Unlocks
Next Generation of Innovative Dairy Products,” both global and local experts
talked about the yogurt culture Delvo® Fresh Pioneer, the acid lactase Maxilact® A4, and the
new enzyme Delvo® Plant Boost, all of which are currently available in the market. Experts also
introduced a new digital tool Fortifull™ that allows manufacturers to differentiate between plant-based products via an enhanced nutritional profile.
“We strive to use
comprehensive solutions to explain to the industry and consumers our scientific research roots, and biotechnology expertise, showcase powerful products and
applications in the global food and beverage sector,” said Mr. Hjelmqvist, “We
also want to demonstrate how closely we work with customers with our Taste,
Texture, and Health (TTH) business unit and show how we help manufacturers meet
consumers health needs, and drive industry growth with innovation and
science."
"The global food and beverage industry is embracing
the future of health, and as manufacturers, we are
thinking about how to help consumers supplement their
daily nutrition in a more relaxed way"
Diverse solutions support three major health
trends
Since the inception of "Healthy China
2030", how people consume healthy food and beverages has become a major
public focus. According to Mr. Hjelmqvist, the demand and interest in immune system support products increased significantly after the pandemic. Globally
three major health trends emerged: Vitamin Fortification, Energy Support, and
Health & Brain Management.
Vitamin fortification: Multivitamin/mineral supplements are quite
popular among Chinese consumers due to their immune-boosting needs. As the
world's leading manufacturer of nutrients, dsm-firmenich’s team of experts
works closely with customers to identify and combine relevant ingredients to
deliver proven health results and provide them with any required support.
"We don't just sell vitamins directly, but
offer solutions in the form of premixes," Mr. Hjelmqvist explained,
"Premixes are a critical part of selling solutions. Different market
segments can be offered different application forms such as beverages, jellies,
gummies, and so on, thus providing strong application support to our
customers."
Energy support: China's fitness trend has intensified with the
pursuit of healthy living. People pay more attention to self-improvement and
health management and actively participate in fitness activities. It is a large
market that offers manufacturers significant growth potential. dsm-firmenich
has several products to help serve the local sports and fitness markets.
One of these
solutions is PeptoPro® Peptide which is derived from dairy protein and contains
20 essential amino acids for muscle protein synthesis. It is virtually lactose
and fat-free and is instantly soluble even in cold water. More importantly, it
is immediately absorbed by the body. This product allows customers to create
formulas for different sports nutrition applications such as instant powders,
drinks, jellies, and energy bar products that serve a range of consumers with
different needs. This includes enhanced endurance, physical recovery speed up,
controlling weight, or improving muscle mass.
In addition to
PeptoPro®, dsm-firmenich offers other vitamins, nutritional lipids,
carotenoids, and micronutrient premixes for sports nutrition applications such
as protein powders, fluid beverages, and ready-to-drink protein shakes. “Our
health benefit solutions for sports drinks help energise the body and expand
its limits by addressing muscle function, endurance, and recovery, as well as
heart, mind, eye, and joint health. We also offer health essentials for women
and men to maximise energy and endurance and control weight,” said Mr.
Hjelmqvist.
Heart and brain health management: Heart and brain health management has been a
hot topic among consumers of all ages, especially in China when it comes to
children and the elderly. Mr. Hjelmqvist believes that Chinese consumers are
highly aware of the benefits of omega-3 fatty acid, or docosahexaenoic acid
(DHA) to overall health.
The Life's
DHA® algae oil is a 100%
plant-based premium solution that functions similarly to traditional fish oils,
but it is produced by dsm-firmenich in a fully controlled environment. This enables end-to-end traceability and facilitates the development of effective and
safe omega-3 solutions by dietary supplement manufacturers. In addition, they
can share all the knowledge they have accumulated in the field of ‘heart
health’ with customers to maximise consumer value.
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| Through its products PeptoPro®, Life's DHA® algae oil, and other leading solutions, dsm-firmenich supports trends in vitamin fortification, energy support, and health & brain management. |
Overall global aspirations are the same, but the
key lies in the implementation
Surveys show
consumers are cutting down on processed and meat products, increasing their
intake of nutrient-dense foods, and/or taking more dietary supplements.
Sugar and salt
reduction also emerged as a global trend especially after the pandemic. “The
market is constantly shifting to beverages that pay attention to daily energy
management. dsm-firmenich has also prepared for this eventuality," said
Mr. Hjelmqvist.
F&B trends
that start in the West eventually trickle down to other parts of the world, yet
when it comes to health and nutrition, global aspirations are the same. Comparing
developments in the EU and China markets, Mr. Hjelmqvist has observed that in
recent years, the EU has shown a preference for low-sugar, low-fat, and
high-fiber products, as well as for organic and non-GMO foods. The market also
shows strong interest in innovative food technologies such as plant proteins
and nutritionally fortified products. While in packaging, consumers in Europe
tend to choose simple, recyclable food and beverage packaging. Conversely, in
China, healthy, nutritious, and tasty food is the first choice among consumers,
and the love for traditional Chinese culture is reflected in their food and
beverage preferences, such as innovative and trendy street beverages based on
traditional teas and Chinese-style snacks.
"The difference in the overall trends globally is
not huge, but how specific products are implemented in
various regions is different. This is exactly where
the mission of dsm-firmenich lies"
This suggests
that both European and Chinese consumers are interested in health and food
quality but with differences in specific preferences and requirements for
innovation. According to Mr Hjelmqvist, this not only provides opportunities
for food and beverage manufacturers but also allows companies to gain an
in-depth understanding of the needs of consumers in different regions. “The
difference in the overall trends globally is not huge, but how specific
products are implemented in various regions is different. This is exactly where
the mission of dsm-firmenich lies,” he said.
Stronger
together for excellent progress
This mission is
now being carried out and accelerated by the merger into dsm-firmenich. The
union has brought together two highly complementary businesses in the food and
beverage industry, giving rise to the business unit: Taste and Texture and
Health (TTH). It comprises two major divisions: ‘Taste’ and ‘Ingredient
Solutions’. Taste encompasses flavours, natural extracts, and sugar reduction
solutions while Ingredient Solutions, include enzymes, cultures, hydrocolloids,
proteins, colourants, nutritional ingredients, premixes, and yeast extracts. “As
soon as the merger was completed, our teams started to work in synergy to
enhance research on brand new solutions," said Mr. Hjelmqvist.
Delicious,
sustainable, and supportive of Healthy China 2030
While serving the F&B industry,
dsm-firmenich has also made strides to reduce its carbon emissions. In China,
dsm-firmenich has responded to the country’s "dual carbon" goal and
participates in green power trading to help promote energy transformation. In
2022, it became the first company in Jiangsu Province to join green power
trading.
In November 2023, the company’s three operating
sites in Shanghai (dsm-firmenich Zhangjiang, Minhang, and Xinghuo) reached a
five-year energy cooperation framework agreement with Huaneng Energy Marketing.
It will gradually achieve 100% green power supply from 2024 to 2028,
comprehensively promoting the concept of sustainable development in all aspects
of R&D, manufacturing, and operation while accelerating the realisation of
its "dual carbon" goal.
Significantly, in
January 2024, dsm-firmenich also acquired 100% shares of Hangzhou ARTSCI
Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (ARTSCI), a leading flavour company in China.
Previously, the company owned a partial majority of its shares. ARTSCI has
built an extensive distribution network in China and is well-known in the
industry for its flexible service to large and medium-sized domestic customers.
This move will effectively enhance the company’s leading position in the dairy,
beverage, bakery, and confectionery markets.
Mr. Hjelmqvist continues to be optimistic about
prospects in the Chinese market. "As a reliable partner to the food and
beverage industry, Taste, Texture and Health (TTH) will always be committed to
providing customers with expertise and to creating first-class customised
solutions. We will further strengthen cooperation with new and old customers.
We strive to help customers create more products that take into account health
and taste through star products such as premixes, carotene, PeptoPro®, and
solutions that meet local consumer preferences. We believe that innovative
products help to improve people’s quality of life,” he concluded.
Want to know more? Check out the FULL Q&A with Fredrik Hjelmqvist at FOOD INGREDIENTS CHINA (FIC) 2024
References
1 Health and Wellness Food
Market Size, Growth & Forecast 2030 (credenceresearch.com) https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/health-and-wellness-food-market
2 The future of sustainable
food in China. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/fes3.405
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