Delivering on taste, texture and health in a complex market:

manufacturers and consumers can enjoy it all

When it comes to deciding what food and beverage products to buy – taste and texture are the long reigning champions in consumer decision making.[1] But while taste and texture consistently claim the top priority spot, the ‘Covid-effect’ has led many people to take an even more proactive approach to their health. This has led to a greater focus on how our diets affect well-being – both physically and mentally.

These changing attitudes have spawned and accelerated many food and nutrition trends. A growing interest in fortification is one of these key trends. Immunity, for example, is driving this demand; 46% of consumers globally have turned to food to boost their immune health[.2] As a response to this, the number of food and beverage products with immunity claims grew by roughly 28% from 2019 to 2021.[3]

For example, to help plant-based food manufacturers improve the nutritional value of their meat, fish and dairy alternative products, DSM offers nutritional solutions like Quali® vitamins, DSM Premix Solutions and life’s™OMEGA plant-based omega-3. These solutions support the development of premium plant-based product ranges with an appealing nutritional profile, so products can be delicious and nutritious. DSM’s innovative Fortifull™ Nutrition Guide tool also gives brands complete insight into a product’s nutritional profile and can highlight missing micronutrients in plant-based offerings. The system compares plant-based alternatives to their meat counterparts, while taking into account any naturally occurring micronutrients present in the plant-based ingredients. With this tailored oversight, DSM’s guide allows formulators to identify and fill any nutritional gaps in their products, enabling plant-based formulation with a well-rounded nutritional profile.

Looking beyond taste, texture and health, sustainability and ethical consumption ranks high on consumers’ priority lists. In fact, 6 in 10 consumers say it’s important to buy food that is produced in an environmentally sustainable way[4], whilst globally 43% of consumers say that they look into brands’ carbon footprint initiatives.[5] At DSM, we recognize people are becoming even more conscious about environmental issues such as carbon emissions and food waste and are taking proactive steps to address this – expecting brands and retailers to mirror these actions. Our Future Trends Survey found that 54% of consumers look for products that have a certification of its environmental impact.[6] In other words, people are turning to food labels for allergen, nutrition and ingredient information as well as sustainability insights – it’s a lot to communicate.

Manufacturers must strike a delicate balance between delivering health, indulgence and sustainability in the face of diversifying – and sometimes conflicting – consumer requirements. In cheese, for example, DSM offers Pack-Age®, a membrane technology that enables cheese-makers to pack and age cheese naturally, effectively and efficiently, without affecting the quality, taste or texture characteristics consumers seek from their favored brands. Research suggests that if all Gouda and Parmesan cheeses globally were ripened using Pack-Age®, the amount of cheese lost each year due to waste would be reduced by 200,000 tons. This would reduce the volume of milk needed by 3.55 billion litres and lower CO2 emissions by 6.2 million tons annually.[7]

Patrick Niels

Executive Vice President

Food & Beverage

DSM

A complex market

Food and beverage manufacturers have a tough job to deliver on consumers’ growing list of priorities but that’s not their only challenge. There is mounting pressure to stay competitive amid cost fluctuations and supply chain disruptions. Recent geopolitical issues have compounded logistic difficulties by disrupting wheat, vegetable and sunflower oil exports from Ukraine, creating a knock-on effect for animal-derived products, baked goods and other staple foods.

These global market dynamics spare no one. We share and feel the weight of these challenges. But the food and beverage sector is responsible for feeding and nourishing people all around the world, which doesn’t stop in a crisis. However, we can work through these challenges together by proactively adopting new initiatives that help tackle issues head on. DSM has already acted by diversifying product origins, securing secondary and tertiary suppliers, and optimizing supply chains, production processes and other logistics so companies can continue to deliver the nutritious and delicious food expected by consumers.

Streamline with a one-stop shop partner

DSM is always looking ahead at how to improve processes so that we can remain agile in challenging situations. That’s why we proactively consolidated all our taste, texture and health solutions under one Food & Beverage business group. The new structure encompasses our ingredients, global and local expertise and solutions – by bringing all our food and beverage expertise under one roof we can better work with our customers and navigate through the industry’s increasingly complicated challenges.

By establishing a ‘one-stop-shop’ which is further bolstered by a number of recent acquisitions – including First Choice Ingredients, a leading supplier of dairy-based savory flavorings – DSM can give food and beverage manufacturers unrivalled support across taste, texture and health solutions. This will help them bring innovative and unique products to market faster and more successfully.

Enjoy it all

DSM’s integrated Food & Beverage business group is more than a supplier, we are a solutions provider and reliable partner. We provide stand-out products across a wide range of sectors, including dairy, bakery, confectionery, savory, brewing and beverages, plant-based proteins including meat, fish and dairy alternatives. We are continuing to improve sustainability across the global food supply chain, as part of our commitment to furthering the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our recently announced series of quantifiable commitments are designed to help transform the world’s food system. We believe we can make the greatest positive impact in three areas: Health for People, Health for Planet and Healthy Livelihoods. One of our commitments is to reach 150 million people with nutritious, delicious, sustainable plant-based protein foods by 2030.

Together, we can fulfill our shared purpose of supporting people worldwide with the nutritious, delicious and sustainable food and beverages they need. Despite complex challenges in a growing, dynamic market, consumers and customers can enjoy it all.

To find out more, contact the DSM team today at Contact https://www.dsm.com/food-beverage/en_US/contact.html

References:

1 Fi Global Insights 2020 (86% of consumers state that taste remains a top purchasing driver, with texture equally as important)

2 FMCG Gurus 2021

3 Mintel 2021

4 International Food Information Council, IFIC Food & Health Survey, 2020

5 FMCG Gurus, TOP TEN TRENDS FOR 2022, January 2022

6 DSM future trends survey 2020

7 Denkstatt report, Sustainable thinking, 2015 (produced for DSM as part of a LCA analysis)