ADM and GLG's Partnership to Supply Low-Calorie Sweeteners Meets the Global Demand for Reduced Sugar and Clean Label Ingredients

07 Jun 2016 --- Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) and GLG Life Tech Corporation (GLG) have announced a new partnership to manufacture, market, sell and distribute low-calorie stevia and monk fruit sweeteners to customers around the globe.

“More and more consumers are looking for healthier foods that are made with natural ingredients and taste great,” said Rodney Schanefelt, Director, sugar and high intensity sweeteners, for ADM. “ADM is already helping customers meet that growing demand with our comprehensive portfolio of ingredients and flavors. Now, we’re expanding that portfolio even further by offering customers around the world a wide array of great stevia and monk fruit sweeteners. We are pleased to partner with GLG, which has a demonstrated advantage in developing non-GMO stevia varietals and a pipeline of future innovative products.”

“This trend is not limited to sweeteners,” Schanefelt tells FoodIngredientsFirst, “We are seeing an increased demand in natural food ingredients and flavors across all products. Consumers are more interested than ever in food sourcing and minimizing processed food ingredients. Sweeteners like stevia and monk fruit that come from plants and fruits are great solutions to meet this demand,” he says.

Schanefelt says that stevia and monk fruit have different flavor profiles but both are typically blended and work best as part of an overall sweetener solution.

“Stevia and monk fruit can be used as sweeteners in almost any food or beverage,” he adds, “With our broad portfolio of ingredients and flavor systems and deep technical expertise, ADM can work with customers to develop specific sweetener solutions and blends to meet the unique needs of each product.”

Under the terms of the agreement, GLG will produce an extensive array of low-calorie sweeteners made from stevia and monk fruit, while ADM will be the exclusive global marketer and distributor of those ingredients to food and beverage companies worldwide.

“This partnership – combining GLG’s capabilities and reputation as one of the largest, most trusted manufacturers of low-calorie sweeteners with ADM’s global distribution capabilities and existing ingredient portfolio – offers tremendous opportunities for both companies and their customers,” said Brian Meadows, GLG President and CFO. “Consumers are demanding healthy, delicious foods and drinks with clean labels, natural ingredients, and reduced added sugar – together, ADM and GLG will be the go-to source for food and beverage companies looking to meet that demand.”

by Elizabeth Kenward