Epi Ingredients’ New Strategy Focuses on Asian Markets
15 Mar 2016 --- EPI Ingredients – the dry ingredients division of dairy cooperative Laïta and dairy ingredients expert – will showcase its unique offering of fermented powders as well as its specialty infant nutrition solutions at Food Ingredient China (FIC) in Shanghai (March 23-25), as the company looks to grow its business in Asia.
“Asian markets are crucial for Epi Ingredients,” Mathieu Lucot, Marketing Manager at EPI Ingredients told FoodIngredientsFirst. “Actually, this is clearly where the growth is, so if we want to develop ourself, we need to be active over there. Our expansion targets are the possibility to meet key infant nutrition players of the area. We will be able to produce a very high quality infant powder, we already have a wide range of liquid infant products, and we have dairy ingredients destined to infant formula production. Basically, we have a complete entire range for infant nutrition.”
“Besides infant nutrition, we strongly develop our range of fermented powders. These powders are trendy because of finished products trends in Asia. We can use these powders in drinking yogurt, ice creams, frozen yogurt and bakery. We have a hard know-how in these specific product so we just need to be more close to manufacturers, to business,” he added.
The company’s EPILAC ingredients are a range of premium fermented powders – yogurt powder, quark powder and fermented milk powder – with differentiating features such as, among others, the presence of live cultures in some of them. For example, EPILAC’s LOWFAT YOGURT POWDER 48 offers the possibility of calling the end-product “yogurt,” in compliance with French regulations. With a strong yet pleasant dairy flavor, these all-natural powders are a true asset in developing innovative indulgent food and beverages. They are designed to enhance both taste and texture in numerous applications such as ice cream, frozen yogurt as well as fillings and icings for bakery products, segment in which the “yogurt-like” taste is very trendy. Beyond these exclusive functional and sensory attributes, EPILAC fermented powders could also impart health benefits as they contain the same live bacteria (Streptococcus thermophilus et Lactobacillus bulgaricus) as the ones found in yogurt. These are known to help balance the gut flora as well as strengthen the immune system, which makes EPILAC powders an interesting option to formulate nutritional products.
Beyond demineralized powders perfectly adapted to be incorporated into infant formulas, the company will present their new Stage 1 to Stage 3 baby formulas (standard and premium). “Consumers in emerging markets such as China, India, etc. are willing to pay more for quality products and, ingredients imported from Europe are perceived to be of higher quality than local offerings. This unlocks tremendous potential for Epi Ingredients whose products are exclusively French-made,” explains Lucot.
Both ranges illustrate Epi Ingredients’ ability to tailor its solutions to the specific needs of each customer thanks to a culture of excellence and a commitment to maintain full control from raw materials to manufacturing process as well as marketing and regulatory concerns associated with the end-product.
by Robin Wyers
