The company said that consumers continue to “push boundaries” for clean label products, with expectations in this area being elevated by the health and wellness megatrend and the search for “authenticity”.
Agneta Hoffmann, marketing specialist at Bell’s Flavour division, explained: “Authentic eating has not only become a major food and drink trend – it has also pushed the purchasing behaviour of consumers to a higher level. Consumers seek for natural and non-artificial ingredients that are constantly driving the strength of clean label within the market.
“A growing focus on transparency and natural claims underlines the strong need for ingredients that continue to deliver higher value. Therefore, innovations with regard to clean, natural ingredients, such as botanical extracts, are a key focus for Bell Flavors & Fragrances EMEA.”
Booming botanics
Bell suggested that the “rapid shift” towards more natural and organic products is expected to drive global level market growth of botanical extracts.
Botanical extracts are derived from plants or other botanical resources, such as fruits, leaves or flowers. They are defined as complex, multi-component mixtures that are used in widespread applications across the food and beverage industry.
According to data research about 10% of global food and drink launches are currently listing herbal extracts on pack, Bell revealed.
The use of botanical extracts in beverages, yoghurt or other dairy products like fresh cheese, and various savoury applications such as ready meals, sauces and soups, will “push boundaries” in 2018, the company suggested.
The group is launching what it describes as a “new concept” with its Feel Nature’s Variety range of extracts targeting these categories.
The new range includes options such as rosemary, fresh curly mint and black pepper extract, which can work in both sweet and savoury applications. Solutions also include options that deliver “floral notes”, such as rose blossom or lavender.
The whole range of botanical extracts is made of natural raw material and created using selective extraction techniques, Bell revealed.