GNT Group Strengthens Number One Position in Spirulina Production, Answering to High Demand for Natural Colors

21 Jun 2016 --- The global market for food coloring is experiencing a strong rise in the demand for spirulina-based Coloring Foods. As pioneer and market leader in using the algae as natural ingredient for color solutions, the GNT Group is excellently positioned to serve its clients’ needs today and in the future: currently, the family-based company produces enough spirulina to color more than one billion portions of food per year.

Thinking ahead of further growth, GNT has recently started the construction of an additional spirulina plant at its headquarters in Mierlo, the Netherlands, which will more than double GNT’s capacities for blue and green Coloring Foods.

Head of Marketing at GNT Group, Guido de Jager, spoke with FoodIngredientsFirst about the rising demand for spirulina: “The spirulina demand has been anticipated for a long time, we have the only working spirulina factory in Europe and it was only last year the US also approved spirulina as a food color,” says de Jager. “We expect the demand will continue to grow and we are extending our production capabilities for the future.”

The increasing scepticism of consumers towards additive colorants and the quickly developing application possibilities of spirulina are fueling the demand all around the world. “More and more major food and beverage companies are announcing the replacement of artificial colors. Being the only natural alternative to artificial dyes such as patent blue V (E 131) or brilliant blue FCF (E 133), the alga plays a highly important role in natural color solutions”, says Dr. Hendrik Hoeck, Managing Director of the GNT Group. “Anticipating this role, GNT was the first to develop Coloring Foods from spirulina more than 20 years ago. That is why we can now offer an ample supply for current market needs and have the required processing technology and unique expertise to provide high-quality products and tailor-made application support.”

“Trends in colors, compared with some time ago, have certainly changed,” says de Jager. “Color usually follows taste but what we have seen recently in new trends is that they aren’t based on color as such. Some products are color based, color is primary and the taste is secondary and we are seeing more and more of this,” he adds.

“GNT have developed spirulina as a food coloring and we produce it ourselves. There are no added chemicals and it’s completely natural so you can label it as a food instead of an additive,” claims de Jager.

“There are still some challenges especially in blue beverages but we are working on a solution for that and we are certain at some point in the future we will find it,” de Jager states.

Constructed in accordance with state-of-the-art knowledge and methods, the new spirulina plant will further improve GNT’s production and make processing even more efficient. Excellent cost effectiveness is guaranteed by high automation and low energy consumption of the factory. “With the new plant, we are completely fit for the future. It will further expand and strengthen our position as clear market leader in the production of spirulina-based color solutions”, says Hoeck. Operations will commence in August 2017.

The GNT Group offers a full line of stable and high-performing blues and greens for nearly all applications. It is the only company with its own production of spirulina, being completely integrated from the cultivation of the raw material to processing and the final application. To ensure best quality and constant availability, the company’s own biologists continuously monitor the production and supply. Like all of GNT’s Coloring Foods, the spirulina-based solutions are concentrates manufactured exclusively with physical methods and water. No organic solvents, chemicals or other artificial additives are applied. Like this, they are ideal for clean label products.

by Elizabeth Kenward