Algaia and Herbstreith & Fox partnership to boost clean label bakery

15 Oct 2019 --- Biomarine company Algaia is joining forces with ingredient business Herbstreith & Fox KG Germany (H&F) to provide a sustainable combination of pectin and alginates for multiple baking applications. The products can be marketed as either single or blended ingredients, while tapping into the mounting clean label trend. This has seen consumers turn toward shorter ingredient lists in a quest to feel better about their dietary choices. The companies are now identifying further clean label solutions that combine Algaia’s alginates with pectin and citrus and apple fibers manufactured by H&F.

“This partnership has no specific end date. Both companies simply know that world is changing, that ingredient producers will adapt and anticipate what their customers might be looking for in the future. Working in isolation to answer a customer need that might require synergies with other key component is not be the best,” Fabrice Bohin, CEO of Algaia, tells FoodIngredientsFirst.

The companies have spent the last two years researching multiple pectin and alginates. This was to determine the most effective solutions involving a specific combination of the raw materials (both seaweed and fruit), the extraction processes and formulations. They say that the combination of pectin and alginate works in synergy to provide better functionality and high stability in specific bakery applications. Applications include bakery filling, bakery topping, pies or cookies that use fruit preparations.

“The origin of the seaweed plus the type of extraction technique – in combination with the right pectin – all are critical for providing the best customer and consumer experience,” continues Bohin. “However, we also acknowledge that today’s customers rightly demand a high level of transparency and traceability in the solution they choose, while consumers want to know the source of each ingredient with simple, easy to understand labels. Working with H&F ensures that our customers will receive German-origin pectin combined with fresh, wild seaweed alginate from France. Since both companies share the same vision, we offer our customers full transparency.”

This cooperation is a win-win strategy for H&F, Algaia and customers, says Sven Fox, H&F’s CEO. “Both companies are fully focused in their area of expertise and in their responsible supply chain and manufacturing processes. By offering expertise in the single ingredients, and adding the blending as service on top, this collaboration gives customers the commitment to excellence they are seeking, and providing the best functionality, highest quality and full traceability.”

The rise of clean label
Consumers are increasingly seeking transparency in their products. One way that they seek to do this is through short lists of easy-to-understand ingredients, as part of the clean label trend. Innova Market Insights reports a 13 percent CAGR in food and beverage launches with a clean label claim (Global, 2013 to 2017). Products with this type of positioning accounted for 29 percent of global new food & beverage launches in 2017.The companies have spent the last two years researching multiple pectin and alginates.

When consumers were asked what characteristics they expected from a natural product, 59 percent expected it “to be healthy” (54 percent Germany; 60 percent UK; 63 percent US), 53 percent wanted it “to not be genetically modified” (50 percent UK; 50 percent US; 60 percent Germany) and 50 percent said it should “be a quality product” (46 percent Germany; 53 percent UK; 52 percent US). Also high on the list of expectations were for it “to have a pure taste” (44 percent), “be safe” (40 percent) and for it “to be low in sugar” (39 percent), according to the market researcher. 

“Consumers and consequently food manufacturers are looking more and more for clean label solutions. They want to see less ingredients in the food they buy and ingredients they themselves consider  natural, issued from natural and renewable raw material, produced in a sustainable way. In the mind of most consumers, Pectin is often considered as one of the best. A product that cooks or chefs recognize as part of traditional cuisine. Products extracted from wild seaweed also benefit from a very good consumer friendly image,” Bohin adds.

Algaia is a privately-owned player in the field of specialty seaweed extracts. It works with local fishers to gather brown algae near its plant in Brittany, France, to ensure a constant local and renewable supply of seaweed biomass. This followed its head office’s move from Paris, which allowed the company to harvest fresh seaweed more easily. 

Earlier this year, the company acquired 31 percent of its shares by Sapec SGPS and its controlling shareholder, the Velge family, by the purchasing of Demeter & Cap Decisif stakes. Maabarot Products Ltd, SuperNova Invest and Algaia management maintained their respective stockholding positions. 

H&F is also privately owned and is one of the top four global players in the field of pectin – both from citrus and apple. The company also pioneered multi-functional fibers extracted from traditionally edible apple and citrus raw material.

Edited by Katherine Durrell