J.O. Sims Partners with Frubella on Infused Fruits

07/01/08 In an agreement with Polish fruit ingredient supplier, Frubella, J.O. Sims is to distribute the company’s naturally infused fruits in the UK. The launch of dried, natural juice infused garden fruits including strawberry, rhubarb, blackcurrant and blackberry, responds to increasing demand for natural products and traditional fruit flavours. Infused with apple or grape juice, Frubella infused fruits offer optimum sweetness and taste and contain no added sugar.

Using vacuum infusion, the fruits are kept at the ideal consistency, even after the addition of sugars or natural juices. The drying process used reduces the water content to 12-14%, increasing shelf life to twelve months. This makes the fruits ideal for use in products such as cereals, where low moisture ingredients are essential. Fruit processed this way is cost effective and offers improved texture and greater consumer acceptance over freeze dried fruit. Frubella’s infused fruits add value to cereals, cereal bars, trail mixes and baked goods.

Doug Mackay, general manager for ingredients at J.O. Sims stated: ‘The attraction of natural and traditional fruit flavours, together with a long shelf life and processing benefits makes Frubella infused fruits a choice option for a wide range of applications. Their elevated natural sugar content improves palatability, while enabling manufacturers to promote a ‘no added sugar’ claim, enhancing consumer appeal in an increasingly health-conscious environment.’

‘We are exited at the prospect of moving into a new market’, Frubella CEO Guiseppe Olivero comments, ‘with J.O. Sims’ expertise in this area, our innovative product is sure to become a fierce competitor in the UK dried fruit ingredients market. Our intelligent and efficient processing ensures both enhanced taste and a reliably top quality product, which British manufacturers will love.’