GNT opens Dubai innovation lab for natural colors as demand grows

GNT has unveiled an application laboratory in Dubai to support manufacturers using its plant-based Exberry colors in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Indian subcontinent.

The facility, located alongside GNT’s commercial and marketing teams in the UAE, marks a significant move in offering “localized technical assistance and faster turnaround” for companies, according to the Dutch plant-based color supplier.

Natural colors are the most popular coloring solutions in F&B worldwide, suggests Innova Market Insights data. Natural coloring agents are primarily derived from spices, chlorophyll plant pigments, and carotenes, says the market researcher.

GNT aims to “empower food and drink manufacturers with local access to global expertise” with this move, says Santhosh Thankappan, sales director at GNT Middle East. It will give these manufacturers a space for innovation to combine “ideas, technology, and people.”

“Our new Dubai lab was created to help our customers perfect their processes and ensure exceptional results with plant-based Exberry colors.”

Vibrant shades from nature

With the new facility, GNT will enhance its color innovation capabilities through instrumentation and local formulation expertise, offering services such as color matching and stability testing.

Exberry colors are sourced from non-GMO fruits and vegetables and offer a vibrant spectrum for F&B applications.The laboratory also serves as a hub for product demonstrations, training programs, and technical consultations.

“The demand for natural, plant-based colors is increasing all over the world — and this [Middle East] region is no exception. This expansion reinforces our dedication to helping manufacturers achieve vibrant, stable shades while maintaining completely natural ingredient lists,” says Thankappan.

Besides the Middle East, GNT also has multiple application centers in Europe, Asia, and North America, producing its Exberry colors from non-GMO fruit, vegetables, and plants.

The ingredients offer a “complete spectrum” of shades that manufacturers can use to replace synthetic dyes in “almost any type of food and drink,” says the company, which released its “Gather Together” report highlighting how color can guide F&B formulation in beverages and confectionery last week.

Natural color advancements

GNT’s new lab comes amid a wave of natural color adoption in F&B spreading rapidly in the industry over the last few years. Major retailers are ditching synthetic dyes in their private brand products, and ingredient firms are exploring technology to mimic the stability and performance of artificial colors.

The demand for natural colors is especially rising in confectionery, soft drinks, and dairy products. In many countries, they’ve now become the industry standard across nearly every category, Dieuwertje Raaijmakers, marketing communications specialist at GNT Group, previously told Food Ingredients First.

“There are several reasons for that. One is that consumers prefer natural products. Regulatory developments are another factor. In the EU, for example, many synthetic dyes require warning labels. The technical possibilities with plant-based colors have also improved dramatically over the years, and they’re very cost-competitive too.”