Sugar & Sweeteners

In love with flavor: Valentine’s Day instigates sweet and savory, indulgent NPD

14 Feb 2019 --- Valentine’s Day offers consumers a chance to spoil their loved ones – and often themselves – with a surge of limited edition NPD including tasty treats and flavorful twists on popular products. In this space, FoodIngredientsFirst takes a look at some of the sweet and savory options on offer this year, in honor of Saint Valentine.

Australia sugar strategy: Nordzucker acquires 70 percent majority stake in Mackay Sugar

11 Feb 2019 --- Nordzucker is set to acquire a 70 percent majority stake in Australia's second-largest sugar producer, Mackay Sugar Limited. Nordzucker reports it is building up its production capacities outside of Europe and pursuing its strategy of focusing on sugar production from sugar beet and sugar cane. The transaction is subject to the approval of Mackay Sugar’s shareholders and other conditions, including the sale of one of the four sugar factories.

Reinventing sugar: “We believe in utilizing sugar in the best possible way,” says Tosla CEO

04 Feb 2019 --- Slovenia-based Tosla, a manufacturer of premium natural syrups, sweeteners and liquid compounds has been aiming to “reinvent sugar,” as the company taps in to new strategies and technologies for sugar reduction. According to the company CEO, Primoz Artac, sugar reduction will remain high on the agenda in 2019 and the need for a cleaner label is more complex than initially expected.

FSANZ approves Ingredion’s Reb M stevia for use as intense sweetener

29 Jan 2019 --- Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has approved Ingredion’s BESTEVIA Reb M Stevia Leaf Sweetener, produced by SweeGen, for use as an intense sweetener. Following a detailed risk assessment, FSANZ concluded that there were no public health or safety concerns with the sweetener.

Olam’s refocused six-year strategy: US$1.6bn worth of divestments including sugar, reinvesting in nuts, cocoa and coffee

25 Jan 2019 --- Olam International is set to invest US$3.5 billion to enhance its leadership position and capture value from key emerging consumer trends while de-prioritizing selected businesses – sugar, rubber, wood products and fertilizer businesses – to release US$1.6 billion of cash for reinvestment. The divestments include “assets lying outside the strategic priorities” of Olam’s 2019-2024 strategic plan. 

A bitter “no deal” surprise? “Hard Brexit would double costs on sugar imports,” Tereos exec warns

15 Jan 2019 --- A “hard” Brexit would have devastating ramifications for the European sugar industry with tariffs of over 100 percent entering into force if no deal is signed prior to the UK’s March 29 exit date from the EU. This is according to Guillaume Planque, Head of Product Management – Sugar & Sweetening Solutions at French-headquartered Tereos, the world’s number 2 sugar producer.

Allulose advance: Ingredion forms Americas partnership with Matsutani

06 Dec 2018 --- Ingredion has entered into a relationship with Matsutani Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., Japan’s leading producer of specialty ingredients. The company will manufacture ASTRAEA Allulose in Mexico and market it across the Americas. The on-trend ingredient is 70 percent as sweet as sugar and helps manufacturers reduce sucrose in their recipes and develop reduced-calorie food and beverages to meet growing consumer demand.

Allulose and stevia surge as stalwart high-intensity sweetener growth lags, says Rabobank report

05 Dec 2018 --- Newer high-intensity sweeteners such as sucralose and stevia are increasingly challenging more established high-intensity stalwarts, such as saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame and acesulfame-k, within the sweetener category. New data shared in a Rabobank report notes that over the period 2009 to 2019, newer sweeteners volume grew at a rate of 12 percent a year, while traditional ones were almost flat at 0.6 percent. Rising concern about obesity and diabetes as well as government-imposed pressure has thrown the spotlight on sugar consumption, which in turn, has boosted the sugar substitute market.

New stevia platforms? PureCircle identifies protein, fiber and antioxidant levels in stevia plant

04 Dec 2018 --- Stevia sweeteners producer PureCircle plans to begin the commercial production and sale of new stevia ingredients in the second half of 2019 following the identification of high content of proteins, soluble fibers and antioxidants in the stevia plant. This new development will enable PureCircle to utilize much more of each stevia leaf. As such, PureCircle will be able to make each leaf “work harder.”

Amyris and Camil Alimentos partner to boost Latin American zero-calorie sweetener market

04 Dec 2018 --- Biotech company Amyris has partnered with Camil Alimentos, one of the largest food companies in Latin America, to meet growing consumer demand for zero-calorie natural sweeteners derived from sugarcane. The newly announced agreement involves the development of an innovative option of a natural sweetener, which is zero-calorie and extracted from sugarcane. The partnership is to begin in Brazil, a country in which the company leads the sugar category and offers a complete portfolio of the segment.

Food Matters Live: Treatt targets enhanced sweetness perception using odor and flavor components

22 Nov 2018 --- The reduction of sugar in beverages remains high on the agenda for brands and suppliers across the globe with increased pressure from health lobbyists driving manufacturers to reduce sugar content across the board. While sugar taxes that were implemented earlier this year continue to gain momentum in the UK, consumer appetite for highly sweetened products has continued to diminish and interest in low-calorie or naturally sweetened beverages has begun to take center stage. At Food Matters Live, held in London this week, Treatt presented sugar-reduced concepts in beverages, using odor and flavor components.

Tate & Lyle increases price of F&B Solutions in North America, amid push in stevia innovation

14 Nov 2018 --- Tate & Lyle has announced that, effective from November 1, 2018, its North American Food & Beverage Solutions business implemented price increases of between 3 and 11 percent on a range of food and beverage offerings. These adjustments are required following significant cost increases over the past 12 months in areas such as materials and logistics and transportation due to substantial truck shortages, the company reports.

New stevia platforms: Tate & Lyle targets Middle Eastern trends for reduced sugar solutions

13 Nov 2018 --- Tate & Lyle is offering ingredients solutions in an array of product categories, including drinks, condiments and dairy, specifically targeting the Middle East. The company is showcasing its tailored ranges and helping manufacturers seeking solutions for sugar or calorie reduction, specific texture profiles or enriching products with fiber while reducing cost.

Evolva agreement with Cargill unimpacted by major sweetness tie-up

09 Nov 2018 --- Biotechnology and fermentation innovator Evolva has responded to news of the DSM and Cargill sweetener joint venture announced yesterday. The Swiss-headquartered company has stressed that Evolva’s royalty rights on EverSweet and their existing agreement with Cargill will remain unchanged as a result of the upcoming joint venture. In a business update, the company says that it expects full-year 2018 product sales to grow at a high double-digit percentage rate. At the same time, their sales development pipeline continues to gain momentum, supporting further growth in 2019.

Tate & Lyle half-year sales decrease 1 percent, rising costs squeeze margins

08 Nov 2018 --- British-based multinational agribusiness Tate & Lyle says it has performed “in line with expectations” after its half-year results show flat profit growth with sales decreasing by 1 percent to £1.38 billion (US$1.81bn). The food ingredients maker fought off inflationary headwinds to deliver growth in adjusted profit before tax and strong cash flow despite cost inflation from materials. 

Sweetness joint venture: Cargill and DSM partner to establish Avansya

08 Nov 2018 --- Cargill and Royal DSM have formed a new sweetness joint venture known as Avansya. Together, the companies will produce highly sought-after, sweet-tasting molecules, such as steviol glycosides Reb M and Reb D through fermentation. The move is aimed at giving food and beverage manufacturers an even more scalable, sustainable and low cost-in-use solution than if these same molecules were extracted from the stevia leaf.

A love-hate relationship? Sweeteners can be part of a successful sugar reduction strategy, experts claim

07 Nov 2018 --- New scientific studies presented at the International Sweeteners Association’s (ISA) Conference in London yesterday, support current evidence that low-calorie sweeteners can aid in sugar reduction, cravings management and weight loss. The latest research on low-calorie sweeteners’ use, benefits and role in the diet were discussed at the 3rd ISA conference themed: “The science behind low-calorie sweeteners: where evidence meets policy.”

Amyris CEO: “You cannot compromise on clean ingredients,” as demand for reduced sugar solutions accelerates

29 Oct 2018 --- With sugar reduction dominating innovation and strategy globally, consumers are looking for high-quality calorie reduction solutions that taste as good as sugar. Amyris is tapping into these trends and enabling some of the world's leading brands to achieve sustainable growth through natural solutions that offer alternatives to sugar. According to John Melo, Amyris President & CEO, the company will soon be making announcements that cover the globe, “in a new set of partnerships across Europe and Asia.” 

Zero-calorie sweetener: Amyris inks major supply deal with ASR

04 Oct 2018 --- Just a few weeks after Amyris was given GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status on its sugarcane-derived zero-calorie ingredient, the company has revealed that it is joining forces with the ASR Group in a major supply and distribution deal. The move comes at a time when consumers are looking for high-quality calorie reduction that tastes as good as sugar.

Harvesting of PureCircle Starleaf stevia crop commences, farms not impacted by Hurricane Florence

28 Sep 2018 --- PureCircle, the world’s leading producer and innovator of stevia sweeteners, and its North Carolina farmer partners are about to harvest the company’s first commercial-scale crop of Starleaf stevia grown in the US. PureCircle’s proprietary Starleaf stevia contains more of the best-tasting stevia sweeteners, such as Reb M, than other stevia plant variants. “Fortunately, the North Carolina farms growing the Starleaf stevia plants were not damaged by Hurricane Florence which tragically ravaged some areas of the Carolinas,” a statement from the company read.