Discover the benefits of plant-based colours

In the age of social media, it is more important than ever to ensure food and drink products provide striking visual appeal. In fact, 56% of consumers now say they like the food they eat to have bright and intense colours.1 However, the rising importance of clean and clear labels can leave manufacturers with a challenge. GNT Group communications manager Lorraine Jansen discusses how to overcome this challenge.

Today’s shoppers expect their products to be made with ingredients they know and trust – and artificial and even ‘natural’ additive colours are among the ingredients that can provide real cause for concern. Across Africa and the Middle East, for example, 58% of consumers say they look for ingredients that they do not recognise when checking labelling, while 71% say they are concerned about ingredients that sound chemical.2

Exberry Coloring Foods can provide the solution. Based on the principle of colouring food with food, they are made from edible, non-GMO fruit, vegetables and plants using physical processing methods such as chopping and boiling. As a result, they can be described on the ingredient list in a way that is easy for shoppers to understand, such as Coloring Foods.

Exberry colours can be used in almost any food and beverage application and, with the right approach, they can provide vivid shades from across the whole rainbow. This year, for example, vibrant red Coloring Foods are leading the way, fueling innovation across a vast array of food and drink products. From hot-chili confectionery and brimstone bread to juice shots and hibiscus cocktails, manufacturers are utilising eye-catching red hues that demand attention and can make a real impact on social media.

Crucially, Coloring Foods ensure widespread consumer acceptance as well as visual appeal. Research shows that more than six in ten shoppers globally find colouring in the form of concentrated juice from fruits, vegetables or other plants appealing.3 A study of consumers in the UK, US and Australia,meanwhile, shows that fruit and vegetables are considered by far the most natural source of colour for food and drink.4

As a plant-based colouring solution, they can also help manufacturers tap into one of the industry’s biggest trends. Plantbasedclaims are on the rise globally with a 37% CAGR for food and beverage launches between 2016 and 2020.5 As Exberry ColoringFoods are made from fruit, vegetables and plants, they are a perfect fit for almost any plant-based product from meat and dairy alternatives to vegan-friendly confectionery. While Coloring Foods can deliver bright shades comparable to synthetics, they are not a plug-and-play solution and achieving optimal results requires knowledge and experience.GNT has been working with Coloring Foods since the company was founded in 1978. This experience has enabled them to develop exceptional process-engineering expertise and means that they can help their customers find solutions to almost any formulation challenge they might face. GNT’s experts are available to help customers through every step of the commercialisation process, from colour matching and stability testing all the way through to regulatory support and upscaling. They can even offer inspiration for products, providing insights on market trends and concept innovation based on decades of experience.

Using Exberry Coloring Foods makes it possible for manufacturers to develop the colourful, clean-label food and drink that modern shoppers demand. With hundreds of shades and a wide range of products available, the possibilities with Exberry are almost endless. •

REFERENCES

1 FMCG Gurus 'Flavor, Color, & Texture Trends in 2021' (2021)

2 FMCG Gurus 'Clean Label and Naturalness: Determining what consumers want and how to provide this' (2020)

3 FMCG Gurus 'Clean Label and Naturalness: Determining what consumers want and how to provide this' (2020)

4 Murley, T. & Chambers, E. 4th. ‘The Influence of Colorants, Flavorants and Product Identity on Perceptions of Naturalness’ Foods (2019)

5 Innova Market Insights 'Powering Up on Plant Protein' (2021)