CHR. HANSEN’S LAUNCH OF VEGA™ MARKS THE START OF A NEW CHAPTER FOR PLANT-BASED FERMENTATION SOLUTIONS

As dairy-free alternatives to yogurt, which Chr. Hansen refers to as “vegurts”, gain traction worldwide, competition is growing among producers striving to offer consumers wider and better offerings. These producers must meet consumer demands for options that offer great taste, boosts wellbeing, freshness they can count on, clean labels and lighter carbon footprint.

Vega™ is Chr. Hansen’s solution to this shifting landscape, introducing a portfolio of cultures designed to help producers achieve superior fermentation results across variety of plant bases. The new Vega™ Culture Kit comprises three categories of cultures: starter cultures that enable customized flavor and texture, probiotics to enhance health positioning, and a bioprotective culture to maintain quality throughout shelf life. Health-conscious consumers want plant-based options to be delicious and to offer good value for money The demand for vegurts and other fermented alternatives to dairy products has grown significantly in recent years. Consumers are more health-conscious than ever, and are continually on the lookout for options they perceive as healthier and more sustainable, as well as those that support good digestion. Research

suggests that while most vegurt consumers in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Egypt are already purchasing these products once or more times a week, significant percentage say that it is important that these products offer nutritional benefits, all-natural and taste good.

Vega™ Culture Kit designed to help producers craft superior vegurts The Vega™ Culture Kit offers flexibility that delivers superior performance with the following range of cultures: a. Choice between mild and freshly acidic flavors, as well as regular or thick, creamy textures from starter cultures designed for plant bases b. Enhanced health positioning with Vega™ nu-trish® cultures, which incorporate the world’s most-researched probiotics -

Lactobacillus rhamnosus, LGG® and Bifidobacterium, BB-12® c. Bioprotective support from Vega™ FreshQ®, a culture that supports a longer shelf life with superior freshness and fewer quality issues through fermentation

“Our VegaTM Culture Kit is a culmination of years of testing and screening for strains that deliver robust performance across the gamut of plant bases,”says Dr. Ross Crittenden, Commercial Development Senior Director at Chr. Hansen. “The result is a portfolio of resilient and flexible options that take the worry out of fermentation performance, allowing plant-based manufacturers to focus on selecting for the features of VegaTM cultures can bring to their products.”

One of the ground-breaking innovations of VegaTM cultures is they significantly improve mouth feel and creamy texture in vegurts. “Producers using these optimized cultures may find that their need for additives and stabilizers is reduced or eliminated entirely, enabling them to offer consumers a clean-label final product,” adds Dr. Patrizia Buldo, Senior Scientist at Chr. Hansen.

For more information, visit www.chr-hansen.com

VEGA™ DEVELOPED FOR PLANT LOVERS

Unleash the potential of your plant bases with the help of the Vega™ Culture Kit.

For more information, reach us at meainfo@chr-hansen.com or +971 4 4550300.